Vietnam’s state-owned oil trading company has made an urgent appeal to the U.S. Navy, requesting permission for an oil tanker carrying Iraqi crude to navigate through American naval blockade operations in the Persian Gulf region.
The request comes as the Maltese-flagged supertanker Agio Fanourios I, loaded with 2 million barrels of crude oil, was forced to reverse course after exiting the Strait of Hormuz on May 10. Maritime tracking systems indicate the vessel changed direction on May 11 while traveling through the Gulf of Oman.
“U.S. forces redirected the vessel as part of ongoing enforcement of the blockade against Iran,” U.S. Central Command confirmed when asked about the incident by Reuters.
The American military has broadened its maritime blockade targeting Iran to encompass cargo considered contraband, though officials maintain that other oil shipments from the Gulf region remain free to transit.
According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, the tanker had successfully navigated through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday using shipping lanes designated by Iranian authorities.
The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has resulted in the closure of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, leaving hundreds of vessels stranded and creating significant disruptions to global energy markets. This critical shipping channel handles approximately 20% of worldwide energy supplies.
In a formal letter dated May 12 and addressed to U.S. military and diplomatic officials, Petrovietnam Oil Corporation (PVOIL) Vice President Hoang Dinh Tung emphasized the critical nature of the cargo.
“This cargo is of extreme importance to Nghi Son Refinery (NSRP), to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and to the Vietnamese people,” Tung wrote in the correspondence reviewed by Reuters.
“NSRP’s feedstock inventories are critically low; any further delay risks halting refinery throughput, with cascading consequences for millions of Vietnamese consumers, businesses, public services and industries.”
PVOIL provided definitive confirmation that the vessel was loaded with Iraqi Basra crude oil purchased from Iraq’s state oil marketing organization SOMO. The loading process took place between April 10 and 14.
U.S. military officials have not indicated whether they will grant Vietnam’s request to allow the tanker to continue its journey.
