YODAN

The tanker is involved in the export of russian crude oil / petroleum products during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and price-cap policy on russian crude oil / petroleum products, and resorts to the practice of turning off the AIS signal and conducting dark activities at sea.
The international NGO Greenpeace refers to the tanker as part of the shadow fleet of tankers transporting russian oil around the world and threatening the environment.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9304356. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
Since May 21 and June 3, 2025, the EU and Switzerland have imposed sanctions on tankers transporting crude oil/petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular shipping practices with a high degree of risk, as specified in Resolution A.1192(33) of the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization.
On June 17, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker in connection with the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products originating in russia or exported from russia to third countries.
Since June 2025, the vessel has been owned by Backstreet Palm Corp (Seychelles), which was sanctioned by the US on July 30, 2025. Backstreet Palm Corp is part of the vast shipping empire of Iranian oil magnate and major arms supplier to russia Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, son of Ali Shamkhani, former Iranian defense minister and chief political adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The network takes significant measures to conceal its operations and obscure its ties to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.
On July 30, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on the tanker IMO 9304356.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On February 21, 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the master of the vessel.
On February 24, 2026, Australia imposed sanctions on the vessel.
Since March 25, 2026, Canada has imposed sanctions on the vessel.