Multiple tankers linked to Iran have slipped past the U.S. naval blockade of the Persian Gulf while carrying crude oil to market—at least 26 according to Lloyd's List maritime tracking, though some sources report higher numbers. This directly contradicts Trump administration claims that the blockade has been a 'tremendous success' in stopping Iranian oil shipments. The tankers are using tactics like disabling transponders and operating through intermediary vessels to evade detection, suggesting the blockade's enforcement has significant gaps despite being positioned as a core wartime success metric.