According to CNN, the large oil tanker MT Tifani has traveled many times between Iran and the area off Malaysia in about a year before being seized by US forces in the Indian Ocean.
According to maritime tracking data, during this period, the MT Tifani ship regularly operated in an anchorage area off the coast of Malaysia, near the entrance to the Singapore Strait. The monitoring system showed that the ship repeatedly turned off automatic identification (AIS) signals during movement and then reactivated when continuing its journey.
The above-mentioned area does not have an official administrative name, but in the maritime industry it is often called the "East Sea Port Border Area" (EOPL), i.e., the anchorage area off the east coast of Singapore port. This area is located in Malaysia's exclusive economic zone, about 40 nautical miles off the coast of the Malaysian peninsula, near the international shipping route with high ship density.
Satellite data analysis shows that in this area, there are records of cargo transfer activities between ships at sea. Some cases show oil transfer from one ship to another instead of being carried out at the port.
According to maritime data, MT Tifani carried out a cargo transfer operation with the Macho Queen ship in August 2025. After that, the Macho Queen ship was recorded moving towards China for a short time before the positioning signal was interrupted.
In addition to MT Tifani, the oil tanker MT Majestic X was also recorded many times moving between the Middle East and the area near the Singapore Strait before being seized by US forces.
According to data released by the United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), in 2025 there were hundreds of shipments between ships in this area. The organization said that the actual number may be higher due to limitations in continuous satellite observation.
Iran is one of the largest oil exporters, with most of the crude oil believed to be transported to China. Due to sanctions, the country's oil exports are carried out through various forms of transportation, including transshipment between ships at sea.
Analysis shows that freight forwarding between ships is a common method in long-distance oil transportation and can be used for many different purposes, depending on commercial and operational conditions.
According to CNN, maritime activities in the Malaysian offshore area are still taking place amid regional tensions and this area continues to be used as an anchorage in the international oil transport chain.
Currently, relevant agencies have not made detailed comments on activities in this area.
