Recent Vessel Seizure and Sanctions Target Iran’s Illicit Oil Trade
United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) applauds President Trump and his administration for yesterday’s seizure of SKYWAVE (IMO 9328716) and latest designations action targeting entities and vessels involved in the illicit transport of Iranian oil and petrochemicals.
The falsely flagged supertanker SKYWAVE was seized by U.S. forces in the Indian Ocean, between Indonesia and Sri Lanka, on its way back from conducting a ship-to-ship transfer in the Malaysian Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) and toward Iran. The vessel had previously been monitored by UANI transiting the Strait of Hormuz on March 11 with approximately 1.9 million barrels of Iranian crude bound for buyers in China. UANI blacklisted SKYWAVE in 2023 and added it to the Ghost Armada list, and OFAC subsequently sanctioned the vessel in 2025.
UANI Senior Advisor Charlie Brown also observed SKYWAVE firsthand during a trip to the Malaysian EOPL, where he photographed the empty supertanker on May 8.
Vessels Designated by U.S. Treasury Department
In addition, 16 of the 19 vessels designated by the U.S. Treasury Department had previously been listed on UANI’s Ghost Armada for evasion of American sanctions. These vessels include: BRIGHT GOLD (IMO 9171503), DAKUSH (IMO 9278698), DOUBLE IN (IMO 8917807), G JADES (IMO 9131096), GALA ROSE (IMO 9126015), GAS ENDURANCE (IMO 9240419), GAS STRENGTH (IMO 9172636), GREAT SAIL (IMO 9177583), LUNA LUSTER (IMO 9292187), MIDAS (IMO 9266841), OCEAN RADIANCE (IMO 9194969), OCEAN WAVE (IMO 9387152), QUANTUM STAR (IMO 9225342), SWIFT FALCON (IMO 9246803), TEJAS (IMO 9326067), and VASLATI (IMO 9252333).
UANI CEO Statement
UANI CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace stated:
“SKYWAVE’s seizure is a significant victory for sanctions enforcement and a clear warning to Iran’s dark fleet. This tanker was long known to UANI, and its repeated attempts to disguise its movements and continue hauling Iranian oil in spite of regional conflict show just how persistent these smuggling networks have become.
“The Trump administration has once again demonstrated the critical importance of sustained, intelligence-driven sanctions enforcement against Iran’s oil smuggling network. These designations underscore the scale and persistence of Tehran’s sanctions evasion operations, which continue to fund its destabilizing activities worldwide.
“Every illicit barrel sold helps finance Tehran’s missile and drone programs used extensively to target U.S. assets, regional allies, and commercial shipping throughout the Iran War. Robust enforcement is not optional; it is a strategic imperative.
“UANI calls on governments, insurers, port authorities, and the broader maritime industry to remain vigilant and take immediate action to de-risk exposure to Iran’s illicit oil trade.”
Vessels Mentioned
- SKYWAVE (IMO: 9328716)
- BRIGHT GOLD (IMO: 9171503)
- DAKUSH (IMO: 9278698)
- DOUBLE IN (IMO: 8917807)
- G JADES (IMO: 9131096)
- GALA ROSE (IMO: 9126015)
- GAS ENDURANCE (IMO: 9240419)
- GAS STRENGTH (IMO: 9172636)
- GREAT SAIL (IMO: 9177583)
- LUNA LUSTER (IMO: 9292187)
- MIDAS (IMO: 9266841)
- OCEAN RADIANCE (IMO: 9194969)
- OCEAN WAVE (IMO: 9387152)
- QUANTUM STAR (IMO: 9225342)
- SWIFT FALCON (IMO: 9246803)
- TEJAS (IMO: 9326067)
- VASLATI (IMO: 9252333)
Original Article: UANI Applauds Recent Vessel Seizure and U.S. Sanctions on Iran’s Illicit Oil Trade — Unitedagainstnucleariran