Julian Lee

A Suezmax tanker identified as carrying Iraqi crude is approaching India after apparently crossing the Strait of Hormuz in recent days.

A supertanker hauling Iraqi crude to China has left the Persian Gulf and crossed the US blockade line into the Arabian Sea, as talks continue to end the war between the US and Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

(Bloomberg) -- A supertanker hauling Iraqi crude to China has left the Persian Gulf and crossed the US blockade line into the Arabian Sea, as talks continue to end the war between the US and Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz gained modest momentum over the past 24 hours as at least two non-Iranian supertankers exited the Persian Gulf, the latest mini-flurry in energy flows transiting the vital waterway.

India’s oil imports from Russia have jumped by 70% since February

Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz dwindled to only a few mostly Iran-linked vessels crossing on Wednesday, underscoring the stop-start nature of traffic through the world’s most vital energy chokepoint.

Widespread interference with signals on the industry's Automatic Identification System continues to cloud the picture, making independent verification of ship traffic difficult. As a result, transit counts may later be revised upward when vessels reappear further from high-risk waters.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz appeared all but deserted on Thursday as commercial operators remain wary of renewed military escalation.

Tensions spiked following a second round of U.S. strikes against Iranian military targets this week.

Twenty-nine of the 109 bigger vessels, those capable of hauling 700,000 barrels or more, which were stranded when the Strait of Hormuz was effectively shuttered after the conflict erupted on Feb. 28 have now crossed the chokepoint, shipping data compiled by Bloomberg shows.