Iran’s oil exports are climbing rapidly despite a U.S. naval blockade, with Washington’s strict sanctions and tight maritime surveillance increasingly appearing to exist only on paper. Maritime data services say Iran has tripled the pace of its oil exports even amid the threat of possible Israeli and U.S. attacks.
Tehran is largely evading sophisticated tracking systems by using a vast “ghost fleet” to deliver oil to China and other countries.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, citing data-tracking site Dropsite — one of several services monitoring ship movements at sea — reported that nearly 174 million barrels of Iranian oil were afloat at sea by the end of March. Of that, 158 million barrels were crude.
Maritime analysis firm Windward said it is nearly impossible to stop such large oil shipments despite the strong U.S. naval presence. About 90 percent of Iran’s oil is going to the Chinese market, the firm said, transported by tankers that switch off their radio and tracking systems. As many as 129 such tankers are currently moving across the seas without sending any signals.
United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a U.S. watchdog monitoring Iran’s nuclear and maritime trade, said satellite images showed at least 15 Iranian-flagged tankers near Iran’s Chabahar port on April 6. About 96 tankers — commonly referred to as a “ghost fleet” — are also anchored off Malaysia’s Johor coast, where oil is being transferred from ship to ship and then secretly sent to ports in China.
Similar activity is being seen in the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea. About 23 million barrels of Iranian oil are also reportedly stockpiled in the Sea of Oman. Despite mounting U.S. pressure and sanctions, Iran has so far managed to keep control of its oil market and sustain its exports.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report