A recent CBS News investigation has uncovered that China continues to secretly acquire Iranian oil, utilizing a clandestine network of tankers dubbed the ‘dark fleet’ to evade U.S. sanctions.
The United States has long imposed heavy sanctions aimed at curbing Iranian oil exports, particularly those facilitating funding for Iran’s nuclear programs.
In a notable move, the Treasury Department announced new sanctions on Wednesday, claiming this is the most extensive action of its kind since 2018.
A CBS News crew recently departed from Singapore, one of the world’s busiest shipping ports, embarking on a journey over 80 nautical miles into international waters to investigate the operations of this ‘dark fleet.’
Charlie Brown, a former U.S. Navy officer and current senior adviser with United Against Nuclear Iran, emphasized the ongoing supply and demand dynamic.
“As long as there’s a supply, there will be a demand for this discounted oil,” Brown stated, highlighting the intricate relationship that exists between Iran and China.
This mutually beneficial arrangement has drawn ire from the United States, especially as it plays out near the coast of Malaysia, specifically in the Riau archipelago, an expanse comparable to New York City in size.
Brown referred to this area as ‘dark fleet parking central,’ noting his extensive tracking of these operations over the years.
One vessel, the Tifani, was identified as a frequent participant in these clandestine oil transfers.
The tankers laden with crude oil navigate from the Persian Gulf to the Riau archipelago via the Strait of Malacca, where they engage in ship-to-ship transfers to vessels destined for China, which consumes approximately 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
During the CBS News investigation, the crew witnessed four ongoing ship-to-ship transfers occurring in plain sight.
These ‘dark fleet’ tankers intentionally disable their transponders and employ various deceptive tactics to obscure their identities.
Brown remarked, “Both ships have a net or something, a tarp, deployed over the stern, covering the name and identification number — it’s obvious deceptive practice.”
Analysis confirmed that one of the ships involved, the Stellar Oracle, was carrying Iranian oil and had been placed on the U.S. sanctions list in May.
Another vessel, known as the Alps — a pseudonym — was also confirmed to be transporting Iranian crude, having been sanctioned in May.
The ship receiving the oil, the Eon, is not on any sanctions list but has now been identified as a new violations participant.
A congressional report last year indicated that this illicit trade might have generated as much as $70 billion for Iran, bolstering the regime and its nuclear ambitions.
Despite multiple rounds of sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, the effectiveness of these efforts appears to be waning as China maintains that its trade with Iran is legitimate, disregarding the unilateral U.S. sanctions.
By the end of the day, a staggering total of 12 ship-to-ship transfers were documented in the Riau archipelago, marking an unprecedented escalation in Iran and China’s covert operations.
image source from：cbsnews
