By Pishtaz | 2024-09-16

A collision between two oil tankers off the coast of Singapore and Malaysia in July drew fresh attention to the Iranian regime's illicit smuggling of oil, via a 'dark fleet' of ships that often conceal their location.

The incident gives credence to the Iranian regime's recent claim that it has been selling crude oil to 17 countries -- in violation of sanctions -- and underscores the inherent dangers of operating smuggling operations.

The regime's illicit trafficking of oil funds the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Quds Force -- its main mechanism for providing lethal support to terrorist organizations abroad, per the US Justice Department.

The July 19 collision between Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile and crude oil tanker Ceres I caused a fire with thick black smoke, AFP reported.

Singapore and Malaysia came to the rescue of the ships' crews, all of whom were accounted for.

Though the collision could have caused a major oil spill, Ceres I was on its return journey and was not transporting cargo at the time of the collision, the Washington Post said in a September 2 analysis of the incident.

Ceres I had made the round trip between Iran and the Chinese port of Ningbo several times in the past year, according to ship-tracking data.

Shipping and energy analysts said the pattern of the vessel's movements before the collision suggests Ceres I had been broadcasting a fake location on ship locator channels.

"Among groups that track ship movements, the Ceres I was widely known to be part of a 'dark' fleet of tankers operating outside international regulations to feed China's appetite for sanctioned crude oil," the newspaper said.

China is one of the few remaining customers of crude from countries such as Iran, Venezuela and Russia, which are subject to heavy sanctions, it said.

Iran's sanctions-defying oil sales

Countries seeking to skirt sanctions often use older tankers, taking circuitous routes to their destination, according to a March 18 US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report.

These vessels are known to engage in risky practices such as turning off their AIS transponders for long periods and conducting transfers at sea.

The United States has blacklisted hundreds of entities for their role in the illicit sale of Iranian oil.

On July 2, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji said the Iranian regime is selling crude oil to 17 countries, without providing details, semi-official Mehr News Agency reported.

He claimed oil production has increased by 60% in the past three years.

"We are in an economic war. We should not disclose the figures, and previous governments did the same," he said.