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Vietnam Asks US Navy to Clear Off-Radar Iraqi Crude Tankers

5/13/2026

25 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Vietnam's state oil company asked the U.S. Navy to let a supertanker with Iraqi crude pass the blockade for its Nghi Son refinery.
Three crude-oil supertankers left the Strait of Hormuz last week with transponders off, according to Kpler and LSEG data.
The Agios Fanourios I and Kiara M, each carrying 2 million barrels, headed for Vietnam, while the Chinese VLCC Yuan Hua Hu, after two months stranded, is now near the U.S. blockade.

History

Historical Context

In January 1991 Iraq dumped roughly 4 million barrels of crude into the Persian Gulf to thwart a planned U.S. amphibious assault, prompting UN Security Council Resolution 687 and a naval blockade that the U.S. Navy still enforces. Today Vietnam’s state oil company Petrovietnam is asking that two 2-million-barrel supertankers be allowed through, highlighting how the Gulf War embargo still shapes regional oil logistics.

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Story summary

Vietnam's state oil company asked the U.S. Navy to let a supertanker with Iraqi crude pass the blockade for its Nghi Son refinery.
Three crude-oil supertankers left the Strait of Hormuz last week with transponders off, according to Kpler and LSEG data.
The Agios Fanourios I and Kiara M, each carrying 2 million barrels, headed for Vietnam, while the Chinese VLCC Yuan Hua Hu, after two months stranded, is now near the U.S. blockade.

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