This week, two Iranian tankers, the Hero II and Hedy, successfully sailed from the Persian Gulf past a US blockade, transporting approximately 9 million barrels of crude oil. The US had recently announced a blockade to restrict Iranian oil exports, which has been a point of contention amid rising tensions. Despite these efforts, data from Vortexa indicates that at least 34 Iranian-linked vessels continue to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, with 19 of them departing the Persian Gulf, largely carrying cargo. The US blockade aims to prevent Iran from shipping oil, but the effectiveness of these measures is questioned as Iran finds ways to circumvent them, often by turning off vessel transponders to evade detection. The ultimate destinations for these shipments remain unclear, although a significant portion of Iran's crude typically heads to China, with recent shipments also reaching India before a US sanctions waiver expired.