Iranian tankers continue to defy the US blockade, with at least two fully laden vessels sailing past warships and ferried roughly 9 million barrels of oil to the market.
This move demonstrates the limits of US efforts to cordon off Tehran's crude exports, which President Donald Trump has described as a 'tremendous success'.
The exit of laden tankers showcases the adaptability of Iranian shipping operators in evading US maritime restrictions.
Since the blockade began last week, the US Navy has seized an Iran-linked cargo vessel and boarded a sanctioned oil tanker in waters east of Sri Lanka, widening its targeted area.
Meanwhile, the Iranians have also opened fire on and caused heavy damage to a container ship near the waterway on Wednesday.
The figures from Vortexa suggest that Iran's exports have continued even in the face of US threats, with at least 34 Iran-linked tankers and gas carriers making their way through the strait and US blockade line.
This indicates that Iranian shipping operators are willing to take risks to avoid being caught by US forces.
The ultimate destination of the two shipments was not clear, but it is likely that they will end up in China, which has been a major buyer of Iranian crude exports.
Other vessels are also testing the US Navy, with some ships attempting to circumvent the blockade by sailing through the Arabian Sea.
The resilience of Iranian exports highlights the challenges faced by the US in enforcing its maritime sanctions.
