Axios Reports 40 Tankers Through Strait of Hormuz, But Data Contradicts Claim

Axios journalist Barak Ravid, citing three U.S. officials, claimed that 40 tankers carrying about 16 million barrels of oil passed through the strait on Friday evening. Open-source data contradicts this. Company Kpler recorded only seven visible vessels on Thursday. Critics note that on Friday, no tankers were moving from west to east, and no oil barrels were exported—confirmed by satellite data. Transporting 16 million barrels would require several fully loaded supertankers, which does not align with the low visible traffic. According to the U.S., protected convoys travel at night with tracking systems disabled. 'Dark' voyages do exist, but independent sources have not yet confirmed the specific volumes claimed.