How does AIS spoofing work?

AIS spoofing involves broadcasting false location data from a vessel's transponder, making it appear the ship is somewhere it is not. Iranian tankers use this to hide port calls in sanctioned locations.

Which countries buy Iran's sanctioned oil?

China is the primary buyer, purchasing roughly 90% of Iran's sanctioned oil exports through intermediaries in Malaysia, UAE, and Oman who repackage it as non-Iranian crude.

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What Is Iran's Shadow Fleet?

Q: What is Iran's shadow fleet?

Iran's shadow fleet is a network of 600+ tankers that transport Iranian oil while evading international sanctions by disabling AIS transponders, conducting ship-to-ship transfers at sea, and using falsified documentation.

Iran's shadow fleet is a network of over 600 tankers operating outside normal shipping regulations to transport Iranian oil in violation of international sanctions. These vessels disable their AIS tracking transponders, conduct ship-to-ship transfers in international waters, and use falsified documentation to disguise the origin of the cargo.