Iran's $800M Oil Smuggling Scheme: Tankers Disguised as Iraqi

Sanctioned tankers are disguising themselves as Iraqi vessels to smuggle up to $800 million in Iranian oil. Maritime intelligence from Windward AI reveals these tankers are manipulating their location data, making it appear they are anchored off Iraq while secretly loading oil at Iranian ports. Four very large crude carriers, Alicia, RHN, Star Forest, and Aqua, can carry about 8 million barrels combined. This scheme comes as President Trump continues a naval blockade on Iran, aiming to pressure the country over its nuclear program. With the blockade reducing Iranian oil exports by more than half, the U.S. has intensified scrutiny of these deceptive practices. The bottom line is that this smuggling operation challenges international efforts to hold Iran accountable and affects global oil markets, impacting prices and availability for consumers.