Iran sanctions snapback adds scrutiny but changes little for now

“The UNSC snapback sanctions send a clear signal: the Shadow Fleet enabling Iran’s illicit oil exports to China is no longer operating in the shadows,” said United Against Nuclear Iran senior adviser Charlie Brown. He argues the UN sanctions significantly increase the responsibility for all UN member states to take action, rather than quietly ignore Iran’s illicit shipping activities and leaving it to US enforcement. With the increase in shipping data and today’s new maritime domain awareness tools, from commercial satellite imagery to AI-driven tracking platforms, every vessel, insurer and facilitator can be held to account. “Now that UN member states are obligated to enforce these measures, they should no longer just watch these ships sail by, but take action, at a minimum to track and share information, but also to enforce sanctions and interdict the illicit ships whenever possible,’ said Brown.