A US Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker was detected operating over the Persian Gulf on Friday, according to a source in Middle Eastern air traffic control services cited by TASS.
The sighting comes amid heightened rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who has threatened military strikes against Iran.
The deployment of aerial refueling assets signals a sustained operational posture in the region.
This follows earlier reports of US Navy aircraft circling neutral waters in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, as well as observations of early warning aircraft operating alongside military transport tankers.
The pattern of activity suggests a buildup of logistical support capabilities rather than a transient patrol.
For energy markets, the presence of US military assets near Iran’s airspace reinforces the risk premium embedded in crude prices.