Reuters: Russian Oil Loaded on Tankers Under Sanctions Related to the Islamic Republic

According to reports, following new U.S. sanctions on four tankers linked to the Islamic Republic, the fate of Russian oil and petroleum products loaded on these tankers remains uncertain. Reuters reports that this situation reflects the increasing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran to face rising Western sanctions, as well as the West's efforts to counter a complex network of companies that supply oil revenues to Russia and Iran. Last week, the U.S. imposed new sanctions related to the Islamic Republic against a shipping company involved in transporting goods on behalf of Iran's military forces. The U.S. Treasury Department stated that these financial sanctions were created to isolate the Islamic Republic, disrupt its ability to finance its proxy groups, and counter Tehran's support for Russia's war in Ukraine. The list of ships from this sanctioned company includes three fuel tankers that loaded petroleum products in the last two months, as well as one tanker that loaded Russian crude oil earlier this month. According to Reuters, two sanctioned vessels, 'Anteah' and 'Elsa,' have anchored with Russian oil and petroleum products in the Suez Canal and Singapore, and their status is unclear. Clare Jungman, a member of the 'Alliance Against a Nuclear Iran' group that tracks Iranian-linked tankers, states that these two ships have repeatedly transported Iranian oil to countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, or China in recent years. Two other sanctioned vessels named 'Heba' and 'Baxter,' which carry Russian oil and petroleum products, are moving in the Suez Canal and the Arabian Sea, with their final destination unknown. According to Clare Jungman, recent actions against ships linked to Iran's military forces indicate a 'serious shift.' She added, 'Some of these ships that previously circumvented oil sanctions against Iran have now engaged in trade with Russia, but now face a significant obstacle due to the imposition of secondary sanctions.' This member of the Alliance Against a Nuclear Iran states that due to the new sanctions, ports around the world are preventing these ships from entering, and it is highly unlikely that Russia will use them or any other ships linked to this company to transport its oil. The removal of these tankers from the cycle of transporting Russian petroleum products will increase the pressure of sanctions against this country's oil exports.