HONG LU

The tanker was used by the sanctioned company China Concord Petroleum Co. Limited to deliver millions of barrels of Iranian oil from the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to China.
The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world and is controlled by the Iranian Ministry of Oil. NIOC and its subsidiaries explore, produce, transport, process and export oil and natural gas in Iran. The oil deals of NIOC, including its subsidiaries, are used to generate revenue for the IRGC-QF (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) and Hizballah (Hezbollah). After russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, namely in July 2022 during putin's visit to Tehran, the National Iranian Oil Company and the russian sanctioned PJSC Gazprom signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation in the oil and gas sector worth about $40 billion.
China Concord Petroleum Co., Limited is a key intermediary that helps Iran and Venezuela export crude oil to circumvent sanctions restrictions.
On October 11, 2024, as part of the expansion of restrictions on Iran's oil/petrochemical sector, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which Delnaz Ship Management Sdn Bhd (the previous manager of the tanker) has an interest.