With Iran imposing a de facto blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, global energy supplies face severe challenges. Since May, the US military has spearheaded a massive covert oil transfer operation in the Gulf of Oman designed to bypass obstructed waterways and ensure uninterrupted energy exports from the Gulf region. Reports indicate that transfer operations are concentrated offshore of Fujairah, UAE, and near Sohar Port in Oman, utilizing ship-to-ship (STS) methods to move crude from smaller vessels to Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs).

To evade tracking, participating tankers typically disable their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and operate under cover of darkness. Vessels assemble at predefined waypoints, departing at intervals of several kilometers before crossing the strait to dock alongside waiting giant tankers for crude loading operations lasting over a day. During this period, the US military employs drones, unmanned surface vessels, and helicopters to provide aerial surveillance and route monitoring, ensuring operational security and safety. Although Pentagon officials claim the Central Command is not directly involved in oil loading, insiders note that military forces play a critical guidance and protection role throughout the transfer chain.

The scale of the operation is massive, with statistics indicating at least 92 vessels have been implicated to date. Satellite imagery reveals that on a single day in mid-June, more than ten groups of tankers were operating simultaneously in the relevant waters. Since May, the total volume of crude and petroleum products transported via this offshore transfer network is estimated to have reached approximately 90 million barrels. However, high risks persist. On June 9, a US AH-64 Apache helicopter involved in related missions was downed by Iran near Sohar Port while multiple tanker groups were conducting transfer operations in the area, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Ironically, this ship-to-ship transfer model has long been a classic tactic used by Iran to evade international sanctions, yet it has now been adopted by US-led operations on a scale far exceeding previous instances. Analysts suggest that as traditional rules break down, the US is borrowing operational methods from the so-called "dark fleet" to cope with the crisis. Although this system has helped some Gulf states maintain exports, alleviating energy price surges and inflationary pressures triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, it remains essentially a high-risk temporary arrangement. Iran could once again deploy drones or fast boats to disrupt passage at any time. This transfer system is unlikely to become a permanent solution, and the energy strategic competition in the Gulf region remains full of uncertainty.