India, June 16 -- The United States has been using a technique from Iran's playbook to transfer oil out of the Gulf evading attacks from Tehran even as the Strait of Hormuz remained shut during the West Asia crisis.

The secretive technique involves using ship-to-ship oil transfers, aerial and water drones as guards and a shuttling technique to transport oil - a method that has long been used by Iran to escape sanctions, news agency Reuters reported.

The transfer of oil using the technique started in early May and so far at least 92 ships have been involved in the transfers, according to shipping data and satellite imagery reviewed by news agency.

The report said that the US military oversaw the transfers out of the Gulf region to keep ...