Bloomberg reported on Saturday that Iran is sending its biggest fleet yet of tankers to Venezuela in defiance of US sanctions to help the isolated nation weather a crippling fuel shortage, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Some of the flotilla of about 10 Iranian vessels will also help export Venezuelan crude after discharging fuel, the people said, asking not to be named because the transaction is not public.

he US has imposed sanctions on state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) as part of its push to oust President Nicolas Maduro, creating a crippling gasoline shortage in the once-prosperous OPEC nation.

In May, Iran sent five tankers loaded with 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate to Venezuela to help jumpstart oil refineries in the Latin American state. The fleet surprised international observers as it crossed a Caribbean Sea patrolled by the US Navy to be greeted by Maduro himself upon arrival.

Now, the last Iranian fuel shipments, which were sent in early October on three vessels, are running out, threatening nationwide shortages.

he current Venezuela-bound Iranian fleet is about double the size of the one sent in May.

Informed sources say the two countries are discussing ways for Iran to help Venezuela overhaul its Cardon refinery, the last fuel plant there to operate more or less regularly.