Iran disguises ships to smuggle $800 million in oil annually

An analysis suggests that approximately $800 million worth of oil transactions are occurring annually while evading international sanctions. Maritime intelligence firm Windward AI revealed that Iran is attempting to smuggle crude oil by disguising sanctioned tankers as Iraqi vessels and manipulating navigation information. This constitutes financial deception aimed at appearing legitimate through false data.

Iran's oil smuggling attempts are taking place amid ongoing port blockades and economic pressure from the United States. The U.S. has deepened Iran's economic isolation by demanding the freezing of its nuclear program, resulting in Iran's oil exports reportedly falling by more than half.

Windward AI pointed out that some of the approximately 20 tankers detained west of the Strait of Hormuz are involved in this disguise scheme. Specifically, four Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) identified by Windward AI, each capable of carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil, are estimated to be involved in smuggling about $800 million worth of oil annually. These vessels operate using a multinational technique involving false registration destinations like Curacao and Malawi, and manipulation of satellite data.

The United States is demanding that Iran dismantle its uranium enrichment program, but Iran asserts this is a sovereign right and a non-negotiable issue. Due to the divergence in their positions, economic pressure through the blockade of Iran's oil exports is likely to continue.