Tanker Trackers: After Iraqi Oil Blending Scheme, Iran Found Better way to Evade US Sanctions

Voice of America

…Madani and fellow tanker tracker Claire Jungman, chief of staff at U.S. advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), told VOA they have seen no signs of regular ship-to-ship transfers involving the blending of Iranian and Iraqi oil in the Persian Gulf since 2020. Both researchers said they believe Iran focused on other tactics because the blending scheme was too cumbersome for its relatively small financial reward. “These shipments involved a refined oil product and were very small,” Madani said in reference to the 2020 blending operations.