Iran kept loading crude oil at Kharg Island despite US and Israeli air strikes launched over the weekend. Satellite images from Monday morning show a very large crude carrier moored at a loading jetty on the eastern side of the island. The tanker was positioned at 10:47 am local time, indicating operations continued two days after the attacks.

Tanker activity around Kharg Island has fluctuated during the conflict. A week earlier, 10 very large crude carriers along with six Suezmax ships and smaller tankers were anchored nearby. By Monday, only four VLCCs remained near the export terminal. This pattern mirrors previous conflicts when tankers dispersed before returning to loading positions.

The key uncertainty involves whether Iran can maintain oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. The country has threatened to close the strategic waterway through attacks on vessels. Iran-linked tankers typically disable location tracking until reaching the Strait of Malacca, making it difficult to monitor crude flows during heightened tensions.