UANI Evidence Leads To Tanzania Stripping Flags From Four Tankers Supporting Sanctions Evasion 

(New York, N.Y.) – Four tanker ships were stripped of their flags in Tanzania last week after United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) researchers detected illicit ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products in violation of U.S. sanctions. The tankers de-flagged by Tanzania’s Zanzibar Maritime Authority were discovered to be the same quartet of ships removed of their flags by another maritime authority a few weeks ago. According to Lloyd’s Maritime Intelligence, the ships have “changed names, flags and ownership at least three or four times this year,” underscoring the unabating covert campaign Iran is orchestrating to conceal its defiance of U.S. sanctions.

Upon discovery, UANI alerted Tanzania’s Zanzibar Maritime Authority and provided images of the ship-to-ship transfers underway, which led to the tankers’ removal of flags. UANI conducts real-time tracking and course prediction of Iranian and Iran-related vessels, operating worldwide to expose the regime's efforts to smuggle oil and cargo in circumvention of international sanctions.

To aid international maritime registrars in tracking and disrupting Iran’s complex network of deception, UANI has shared its findings with the world’s maritime administrations, showing live images of illegal transfers. Among the many responsible authorities to take action after UANI’s engagement, Gabon’s flag registry removed two of the de-flagged Tanzania vessels after reviewing evidence of illicit transfers from UANI.

Dozens of Iranian-linked flag-hopping tankers have been detected and de-listed by maritime administrations in recent months for their involvement in sanctionable activity. According to Lloyd’s Maritime Intelligence, flag registries targeted by subterfuge ships “include not only Tanzania, but Cook Islands, Cameroon, Gabon, Sao Tome & Principe, Honduras, Samoa, Palou, Sierra Leone, Comoros, Djibouti and Belize.” 

The strategy of flag-hopping by Iran-linked vessels is one of many deceptive shipping practices employed by the regime in its effort to subvert unilateral sanctions that have crippled the shipping and energy industries of its oil-dominated economy. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, a U.S. designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, leverages illicit shipments of oil to directly finance regime activities, including its illegal nuclear weapons program and support for terror groups worldwide. 

To read the Lloyd’s Maritime Intelligence article, please click here. 

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