Venezuela and Iran have recently expanded their cooperation mainly through a barter operation that provides the state-owned PDVSA with light oil for refining purposes and dilution liquids to produce exportable grades of crude.
And the Venezuelan oil company provides Iran in return with heavy crude and fuel.
Claire Youngman, director of the office of the head of the organization (United Against a Nuclear Iran), said that the Iranian-flagged tanker Dori was seen in satellite images near the Venezuelan port of Jose on Monday. It added that the tanker was seen near Asalouyeh, in the Iranian province of Bushehr, in October.
PDVSA did not respond to a request for comment.
Refinitiv Icon ship-tracking data showed the tanker’s transponder was switched off in late October after loading a cargo of capacitors.
In November, two large Iranian-linked tankers left Venezuelan waters, carrying Venezuelan crude and fuel oil for the state-owned Iran Petroleum International Trade Company, according to PDVSA’s internal export schedules.
The schedules showed another supertanker, which is scheduled to depart from the port of Jose in December, with a cargo of fuel oil for Iran Petroleum International Trade Company.
Iran has provided PDVSA with more than 26 million barrels of crude and condensate so far this year, according to internal company documents.
Iran is also involved in several refinery projects in Venezuela aimed at helping PDVSA revive motor fuel production.
Iran and Venezuela are subject to US sanctions.