US-Imposed Blockade Fails to Halt Iranian Oil Exports to China
The U.S. blockade has intercepted dozens of vessels since mid-April in an effort to cut off Iran’s income from oil exports. However, a small number of ships carrying Iranian cargo are still sailing, with some vessels even reaching their destinations in East Asia.
China is by far the world’s biggest customer for Iranian oil, and the U.S. blockade has been unable to completely halt these exports. The conflict in the Middle East provided a painfully awkward backdrop to this week’s meetings between President Trump and China’s leader, Xi Jinping.
Ships Employ Deceptive Tactics to Evade US Blockade
Ships carrying Iranian oil have employed various deceptive tactics to evade the U.S. blockade. These tactics include turning off location trackers, using spoofing to falsify positions, and sailing under false flags. Some vessels have even deployed all of these tactics together, making it difficult for authorities to track their movements.
According to Windward, a maritime intelligence firm, there was a 600 percent increase in the number of ships engaged in deceptive tactics between April 19 and May 3. This surge in evasive maneuvers has made it challenging for the U.S. Navy to effectively enforce its blockade.
Iranian Vessels Still Reaching China
Despite the US-imposed blockade, some Iranian vessels are still reaching their destinations in East Asia. The Huge, a large Iranian ship, is one such vessel that has successfully navigated the blockade and reached Vietnam. Another ship, the Majestic X, was recently seized by the U.S. Navy in the Indian Ocean, but it is unclear whether this seizure will have any significant impact on Iran’s oil exports.
The New York Times analysis of satellite images and other shipping data shows that some ships carrying Iranian oil are now nearing East Asia. This suggests that the US-imposed blockade has not been able to completely halt these exports, and that China remains a key destination for Iranian oil.
Original Article: How Iran’s Energy Exports Are Still Headed Toward China — Nytimes