Eleven tankers carrying 20 million barrels of Iranian oil depart Chabahar Port

BASRA, Iraq — Eleven tankers carrying a combined 20 million barrels of Iranian oil departed from Chabahar Port this week, Bloomberg reported. The agency provided figures on both the cargo volumes and the number of vessels involved. Separately, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that 20 oil tankers transited a secure corridor in the Strait of Hormuz. Both developments come against a backdrop of increased maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf in recent days. Chabahar is one of Iran's strategic ports on the Indian Ocean coast. Iranian oil exports to international markets are largely carried out through unregistered tanker fleets due to sanctions. CENTCOM's disclosure of the number of tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz has reopened debate over maritime security in the region. Bloomberg's data is regarded as an independent indicator of the scale of Iran's oil exports.