All three Iranian tankers carrying gasoline to Venezuela have arrived in the fuel-starved South American country, vessel-tracking data shows.
The journeys took place without incident, as the US has refrained from intervening in the oil trade between the two sanctioned countries.
The 35,200-dwt Forest (built 2004), and Fortune and Faxon (both built 2004) have all entered Venezuelan ports over the week. The ships are each believed to have carried about 247,000 barrels of gasoline to the country.
Kpler data suggests the Forest called at El Palito on 29 September, the Fortune at Amuay on 2 October and the Faxon on 4 October.
Sitting on the world’s largest oil reserves, Venezuela has faced a persistent fuel shortage due to falling crude and refinery output over the past few years.
The Opec member has begun a new fuel-rationing plan this week and is now distributing fuel according to motorists’ licence plate numbers, Reuters reported.
In a Sunday state television address, President Nicolas Maduro confirmed that a “good quantity of gasoline” has arrived from abroad.
Tehran Times last week reported that Iran received gold bars via air transport in exchange for gasoline delivered to Venezuela, citing Yahya Rahim-Safavi, a former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corp.
Iran and Venezuela, which have both been sanctioned by Washington, have improved their trade links this year as other countries steer away from them.
The latest shipments come after five product tankers transported a total of 1.5m barrels of Iranian gasoline to Venezuelan in the second quarter.
They consist of the trio that recently arrived in the South American country and the 50,100-dwt Petunia and Clavel (both built 2018).
The smaller tankers are owned by National Iranian Tanker Co and the larger ones by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. All the ships are flagged in Iran.
The Us Department of the State has recently suggested that Washington would focus on cutting off Venezuela’s gasoline imports from everywhere in the world except Iran.
Some commentators believe that the US might choose not to intervene in the oil trade between the two countries for now if others are not involved.
The US is scheduled hold its presidential and congressional elections next month, while Venezuela is to have a legislative election in December.
