Iran Tanker Tracking

Economic pressure can compel Tehran to moderate its destructive behavior and end its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Crude and natural gas exports historically account for 25% of government revenues: it is therefore important to accurately track Iran’s oil exports to interpret if sanctions are effectively stopping the flow of revenue to the regime.

This can be difficult given the regime’s track-record of smuggling and sanctions evasion techniques and there is little consensus among oil tracking agencies about how much is getting through, and to where.

This variance mars the accuracy of media reports, but it also presents a serious challenge to those trying to get a handle on the trajectory of the Iranian economy, given its oil revenue dependency.

More importantly, a correct accounting of quantities and destinations will help focus limited resources to where they are really needed: which shippers, which vessels, which areas, which ports, which flags, which insurers.

UANI has therefore sought to address the information gap with a new comprehensive ship-tracking methodology.

Using Automatic Identification System (AIS), satellite imagery, vessel comparison and tanker classification, and cargo datasets to uncover all under-the-radar ship-to-ship (STS) transfers and exports of Iranian oil and gas condensates, we generate what we contend are the most accurate figures available.

This resource seeks to disrupt Iran’s attempts to generate profits from oil sales and further isolate the regime economically.

  • Exports Over Time
  • Shipping Analysis
  • November 2024
    Barrels Per Day (BPD)
November Total: 1,597,343
November 2024 Iran Tanker Tracker
December 01, 2024 | Claire Jungman and Charlie Brown

The incoming second Trump Administration has reignited interest in the "Maximum Pressure" campaign on Iran, signaling intentions to further limit the Iranian regime’s oil exports and its financial resources. While these actions aim to curb Iran’s destabilizing influence, the persistence and expansion of illicit networks—operating under the guise of the "Dark Fleet"—underscore the ongoing challenges to enforcement.

Despite a growing list of sanctions over the past year, these clandestine networks of traders and their aging tankers have persisted and grown in size and operational prominence. The increasing reliance on aging vessels, many of which would have otherwise been decommissioned, highlights a troubling trend. Observations in 2024 indicate a substantial rise in Ship-to-Ship (STS) transfer operations, often conducted under the radar of enforcement agencies.
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