Saudi Aramco resumes oil exports through Strait of Hormuz

Saudi Arabia's state-owned energy company, Saudi Aramco, has resumed loading crude oil at the port of Ras Tanura and exporting shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a source in the kingdom's oil industry cited by Russia's RIA Novosti news agency.

The source said Saudi Aramco had restarted loading operations at Ras Tanura, the country's largest oil export terminal on the Persian Gulf, allowing crude exports to resume through terminals connected to the Strait of Hormuz.

Two very large crude carriers controlled by Saudi’s shipping arm Bahri were seen loading crude at Ras Tanura, while another is heading towards the terminal. A fourth VLCC waited nearby. Each VLCC is capable of loading 2 million barrels of oil.

British navy agency UKMTO paused its operation to escort ships through the strait after the attack on the cargo ship, reigniting concerns about whether the preliminary deal to end the Iran war will hold.

Two U.S. officials told Reuters that Iran had fired on the ship, while Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which Tehran established to manage requests for ships to travel through the strait, said vessels outside routes it has set will not be guaranteed safe passage.

By Sabina Mammadli