Malaysia releases tankers suspected of transferring illegal crude oil worth US$129 million

. . .Meanwhile, Mr Charlie Brown, a senior adviser at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a United States-based advocacy group that monitors sanctions evasion, has criticised the release of the tankers on bond, describing it as a “slap on the wrist.” “It’s an easy US$75,000 for Malaysia and a minor inconvenience for the cargo owner,” said Mr Brown, who is based in Singapore. According to the group, instances of illegal STS activity involving sanctioned Iranian oil in Malaysian waters rose from 280 in 2023 to 679 in 2025, driven largely by demand from China. Mr Brown added that due to weather limitations and UANI’s reliance on satellite monitoring, the actual number of illegal STS operations is likely higher. “Lately, I’m seeing more than 10 STS transfers daily on clear days,” he said. “Last year, it was around five.”