Iran's Shadow Oil Trade Persists Near Singapore Despite Regional War
Despite the ongoing Middle East war and a tense ceasefire with the United States, Iran continues to evade sanctions through a clandestine oil trade network centered near Singapore. Thousands of miles from the Strait of Hormuz, ship-to-ship (STS) transfers allow Iranian crude to be laundered and redirected, primarily to China. Approximately 400 tankers are currently sanctioned by the US, EU, or UK for their involvement in this shadow fleet, which utilizes opaque ownership, false flags, and manipulated GPS data to operate undetected. Since March 1, at least 37 Iran-linked tankers have transferred over 62 million barrels of crude in waters off Malaysia and Singapore. Experts describe the area as a hub of total anarchy, noting that contradictory US policies—such as temporary sanction easements followed by port blockades—make illicit exports safer than legitimate trade. Major destinations for these cargoes include ports in China’s Shandong, Liaoning, and Jiangsu provinces. Maritime analysts track these movements using algorithms that analyze vessel draught and historical routes, as automatic identification systems are often disabled during critical transfer operations.
Wire timeline
Iran's Shadow Oil Trade Persists Near Singapore Despite Regional War
Despite the ongoing Middle East war and a tense ceasefire with the United States, Iran continues to evade sanctions through a clandestine oil trade network centered near Singapore. Thousands of miles from the Strait of Hormuz, ship-to-ship (STS) transfers allow Iranian crude to be laundered and redirected, primarily to China. Approximately 400 tankers are currently sanctioned by the US, EU, or UK for their involvement in this shadow fleet, which utilizes opaque ownership, false flags, and manipulated GPS data to operate undetected. Since March 1, at least 37 Iran-linked tankers have transferred over 62 million barrels of crude in waters off Malaysia and Singapore. Experts describe the area as a hub of total anarchy, noting that contradictory US policies—such as temporary sanction easements followed by port blockades—make illicit exports safer than legitimate trade. Major destinations for these cargoes include ports in China’s Shandong, Liaoning, and Jiangsu provinces. Maritime analysts track these movements using algorithms that analyze vessel draught and historical routes, as automatic identification systems are often disabled during critical transfer operations.
AL-MONITOR: The Pulse of The Middle East