Iran has rejected reports that crude oil tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz with their tracking systems turned off to avoid potential attacks. According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the large tanker ‘Aegeos Fanorios One,’ bound for Vietnam and carrying Iraqi crude under a Maltese flag, followed a route designated by Iran while crossing the strategic waterway.

Earlier, Reuters had reported that three tankers switched off their transponders before passing through the strait on Sunday. Tasnim, however, stated that the ‘Aegeos Fanorios One’ ensured a safe journey by adhering to Iran’s instructed route. The vessel, which loaded oil in Iraq’s Basra on April 17, had previously failed twice to cross the strait before succeeding on Sunday. It is now heading toward the Gulf of Oman.

The report comes amid heightened regional tensions and conflict in the Middle East, where tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz have become increasingly risky. Conflicting accounts of vessel routes have added to uncertainty in global energy markets, with analysts suggesting Iran aims to demonstrate control and surveillance capability over the passage.