U.S. Sanction Threat Prompts Iran Tankers to Go Dark

U.S. Sanction Threat Prompts Iran Tankers to Go Dark

Tankers carrying Iranian crude to China are turning off their trackers, Kpler has reported, as cited by Bloomberg, as the threat of new U.S. sanctions looms large despite ongoing nuclear deal negotiations. “Ship-to-ship transfers have been used to mask the origin of those cargoes,” a Kpler analyst told the publication. “Now they’re switching signals off for longer, so that it’s now even harder to trace those flows back to the source, which is Ir…

Oil Tankers Going Dark Off Malaysia as Iran Trade Draws Scrutiny

Tankers involved in a vital hub of the Iran-to-China oil trade are disappearing from digital tracking systems, as the threat of US sanctions forces tactical changes to keep crude flowing.

Shadow Tankers and Sanctions: How Iranian Oil Quietly Reaches China Through Malaysia - Iran News Update

In April 2025, satellite and maritime tracking firms reported a surge in covert oil transfers in East Malaysia, shedding light on Iran regime’s continued efforts to circumvent U.S. sanctions and sustain its oil trade with China. According to tanker tracking companies Kpler and Vortexa, at least six ship-to-ship (STS) oil transfers occurred off the coast of East Malaysia during April, involving vessels that deliberately turned off their tracking …