BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 30. Ship-tracking data indicates that an Iranian crude oil tanker continued its voyage through Southeast Asian waters despite ongoing restrictions affecting regional maritime traffic.
According to the report, the tanker Humanity passed through the Strait of Malacca and near Singapore before changing course toward the coast of Malaysia, where it reportedly switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS).
Satellite tracking data showed the 330-metre tanker later arrived at Malaysia's Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL), an offshore anchorage area in the South China Sea.
Maritime security analysts cited in the report said the vessel likely disabled its tracking signal while preparing for a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer, a practice commonly used in the global oil trade but also associated with efforts to conceal the origin or destination of cargoes.
According to the analysts, the cargo's eventual destination is likely China, which the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission says has historically purchased around 90 percent of Iran's crude oil exports.
Iran has repeatedly maintained that its oil exports are conducted in accordance with its national interests, while the United States continues to impose sanctions aimed at restricting Tehran's oil trade.
