Shadow Fleet

On July 30, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel for engaging in activities conducted on behalf of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani is the son of Ali Shamkhani, the chief political advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader. Leveraging his father’s political influence, Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani has corrupted senior Iranian regime officials to build and operate a vast fleet of tankers and container ships. This fleet transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to customers worldwide, generating tens of billions of dollars in profit.
His shipping network comprises a large fleet of vessels, ship management companies, and front entities that launder billions of dollars in proceeds from global sales of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, primarily to buyers in China. The network takes extensive measures to conceal its operations and obscure its connections to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9248485. 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.

On July 30, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel for engaging in activities conducted on behalf of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani – the chief political advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran – leverages his father’s political influence to corrupt senior Iranian regime officials in order to build and operate a vast fleet of tankers and container ships. This fleet transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to customers worldwide, generating tens of billions of dollars in profit.
His shipping network consists of an extensive fleet of vessels, ship management companies, and front entities that launder billions of dollars in proceeds from global sales of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, primarily to buyers in the People’s Republic of China. The network takes extensive measures to conceal its operations and obscure its connections to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.

The tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned shipping company Xante Line Inc (Marshall Islands), which was designated by the United States on July 30, 2025, for providing material assistance, sponsorship, or financial, material, or technological support, as well as goods or services, to or in support of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani is the son of Ali Shamkhani, the chief political advisor to Iran’s supreme leader. Leveraging his father’s political influence, Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani has corrupted senior Iranian regime officials to build and operate a vast fleet of tankers and container ships. This fleet transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to customers worldwide, generating tens of billions of dollars in profit.
His shipping network comprises a large fleet of vessels, ship management companies, and front companies that launder billions of dollars in proceeds from the global sale of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, primarily to buyers in the People’s Republic of China. The network takes extensive measures to conceal its operations and obscure its connections to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.
The United States imposed sanctions on the vessel on July 30, 2025.

The tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned shipping company Yug Shipping Inc (Marshall Islands), which was designated by the United States on July 30, 2025, for providing material assistance, sponsorship, or financial, material, or technological support, as well as goods or services, to or in support of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani is the son of Ali Shamkhani, the chief political advisor to Iran’s supreme leader. Leveraging his father’s political influence, Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani has corrupted senior Iranian regime officials to build and operate a vast fleet of tankers and container ships. This fleet transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to customers worldwide, generating tens of billions of dollars in profit.
His shipping network consists of a large fleet of vessels, ship management firms, and front companies that launder billions of dollars in proceeds from the global sale of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, primarily to buyers in the People’s Republic of China. The network takes extensive measures to conceal its operations and obscure its connections to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.
The tanker is also affiliated with the sanctioned company Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE), one of several entities that have played a major role in managing and operating the tanker fleet within the Shamkhani shipping network.
The United States imposed sanctions on the vessel on July 30, 2025.

The tanker has been implicated in the export of russian crude oil and petroleum products during the period of the G7 and European Union (EU) oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian-origin crude oil and petroleum products.
On 20 May 2025, the EU imposed sanctions on the tanker, effective 21 May 2025, for transporting crude oil and/or petroleum products originating in, or exported from, the russian federation, while employing irregular and high-risk shipping practices as defined in International Maritime Organization (IMO) Assembly Resolution A.1192(33).
On 3 June 2025, sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the vessel entered into force.
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.
On 21 July 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker, during the period of the oil embargo and price cap policy on russian crude oil / petroleum products, is involved in the export of russian crude oil / petroleum products using deceptive, high-risk shipping practices.
The vessel was also involved in the transfer of Iranian crude oil / petroleum products using deceptive, high-risk shipping practices (STS transfers with sanctioned tankers, conducting dark activities).
On July 3, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on the tanker for STS operations with tankers that the US had designated for transporting Iranian crude oil / petroleum products.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products from FSO IMO 9448968, owned and operated by the russian company Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft LLC (TIN 3444070534), one of the largest oil producers engaged in the exploration and development of oil and gas fields in the Caspian and Azov Seas and a 100% subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC LUKOIL. The FSO FSO IMO 9448968 floating storage facility is designed to store russian oil from the Yuri Korchagin field located in russian waters in the northern Caspian Sea, 180 km from Astrakhan and 240 km from Makhachkala. The field was discovered by the sanctioned russian company Lukoil in 2000. Hydrocarbons from the storage facility are delivered ashore to Makhachkala by shuttle tankers weighing between 6,000 and 12,000 tons. In Makhachkala, the oil is fed into the Novorossiysk Makhachkala pipeline, which is operated by the Azerbaijani state-owned company SOCAR together with the russian sanctioned company PJSC Transneft (TIN 7706061801).
The tanker IMO 9397676 engages in dark activity near Makhachkala after making calls to the FSO IMO 9448968.
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of russian crude oil/petroleum products from FSO IMO 9448968, owned and operated by the russian company Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft LLC (TIN 3444070534), one of the largest oil producers engaged in the exploration and development of oil and gas fields in the Caspian and Azov Seas and a 100% subsidiary of the sanctioned PJSC LUKOIL. The FSO FSO IMO 9448968 floating storage facility is designed to store russian oil from the Yuri Korchagin field located in russian waters in the northern Caspian Sea, 180 km from Astrakhan and 240 km from Makhachkala. The field was discovered by the sanctioned russian company Lukoil in 2000. Hydrocarbons from the storage facility are delivered ashore to Makhachkala by shuttle tankers weighing between 6,000 and 12,000 tons. In Makhachkala, the oil is fed into the Novorossiysk Makhachkala pipeline, which is operated by the Azerbaijani state-owned company SOCAR together with the russian sanctioned company PJSC Transneft (TIN 7706061801).
The tanker IMO 9397676 is involved in dark activities near the russian city of Derbent (Dagestan).
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the transportation of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products.
The vessel resorts to deceptive practices, including manipulation of the vessel's location and dark activities near Malaysia.
The tanker is affiliated with the shipping empire of Iranian oil magnate and major arms supplier to russia Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani through the company OCEANLINK MARITIME DMCC.
On April 04, 2024, the USA imposed sanctions on the tanker ІМО 9281683, involved in cooperation with the sanctioned Iranian company Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company in the delivery of Iranian goods. Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company controls a network of front companies in Iran and other jurisdictions through which Iranian goods are sold in favor of the Ministry of Defense and Logistics of the Armed Forces of Iran (MODAFL) and the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS).
Since December 16, 2024, the EU has imposed sanctions on the tanker for the transportation of crude oil or petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular high-risk shipping practices as set out in the International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution A.1192(33).
On December 23, 2024, Switzerland imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with the transportation of crude oil or petroleum products originating in or exported from russia, using irregular and risky shipping practices, as set out in the resolution of the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization A.1192(33).
In June 2025, Canada imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker is involved in the supply of Iranian oil to China.
The Iranian Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) and its main commercial subsidiary, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (Sepehr Energy), continue to create front companies and rely on buyers and intermediaries to facilitate their authorized oil trade. AFGS and Sepehr Energy continue to rely on access to a fleet of aging shadow fleet oil tankers to supply oil to foreign buyers. As of early 2025, Sepehr Energy official Toomaj was using vessel IMO 9235244 to facilitate the supply of Iranian oil to China.
According to GISIS IMO data, as of July 14, 2025, the vessel's flag is unknown.

The tanker is involved in the supply of Iranian oil to China.
The Iranian Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) and its main commercial subsidiary, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (Sepehr Energy), continue to create front companies and rely on buyers and intermediaries to facilitate their authorized oil trade. AFGS and Sepehr Energy continue to rely on access to a fleet of aging shadow fleet oil tankers to supply oil to foreign buyers. As of early 2025, Sepehr Energy official Toomaj was using vessel IMO 9275660 to facilitate the supply of Iranian oil to China.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9235244. 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.
On May 13, 2025, the US imposed sanctions on the tanker.

The vessel is involved in the supply of Iranian oil to China. Since mid-2024, the tanker has transported millions of barrels of Iranian oil to China, including STS transportation with the sanctioned vessel IMO 9197832, which was sanctioned by USA on September 25, 2024 for transporting Iranian oil for the benefit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
On May 08, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on tanker IMO Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9197832. 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.