The United States has imposed sanctions on nine vessels of what is known as the shadow fleet, which are used to transport Iranian oil and petroleum products to foreign markets. S. Treasury Department said that these vessels have collectively transported hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of Iranian oil and petroleum products to foreign markets.
The move aims to escalate pressure on Iran over the recent killing of protesters. Rights groups say thousands of people, including bystanders, were killed during the unrest in Iran, which they describe as the biggest crackdown since Shi'ite Muslim clerics took power in the 1979 revolution. The shadow fleet refers to ships that carry oil that is under sanctions.
They are typically old, their ownership opaque and they sail without the top-tier insurance cover needed to meet international standards for oil majors and many ports. S. Treasury said that the revenue generated by these vessels belongs to the Iranian people but is instead diverted to fund Iran's regional terrorist proxies, weapons programs, and security services.
Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment. President Donald Trump had repeatedly threatened to intervene against Iran over the recent killings of protesters there, but protests dwindled last week. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers will arrive in the Middle East in the coming days.
Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. S. hit with sanctions on Friday include the Sea Bird, Al Diab II, Cesaria, all flagged by Palau and the Comoros-flagged Avon and Chiron 5.
This move by the US is a significant escalation of pressure on Iran's shadow fleet, which has been used to evade international sanctions. The fact that these vessels have transported hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of Iranian oil and petroleum products to foreign markets highlights the need for increased vigilance in monitoring and regulating the global energy trade.
