US investigators record Iranian ‘ghost fleet’ evading naval blockade on route to China: Report

A group of United States investigators shared Sunday that they have captured footage of small Iranian “ghost fleets” evading a U.S. naval blockade and smuggling things to China.The group, United Against Nuclear Iran, conducted the months-long probe and said at least 10 Iranian tankers transporting sanctioned liquefied petroleum gas or Iranian oil have snuck past the U.S. blockade since it was established in the Strait of Hormuz in July.
UANI identified one of the sanctioned tankers as the SOGL, which allegedly escaped the blockade on Sept. 1 and was carrying approximately 500,000 barrels of Iranian LPG that it collected at an Iranian port in August, according to Fox News.
The tanker reportedly then transported the oil to Malaysia and then on to China where it discharged the cargo.
“What this shows us is that some vessels are managing to breach the U.S. maritime blockade,” Senior UANI analyst Jemima Shelley said of the footage shared with Fox News.
“Most vessels aren’t, but since the reinstatement in mid-July, we have seen only nine small tankers being successful in their breach of the U.S. blockade and departing the Gulf of Oman laden with oil or LPG,” she added.
The analyst noted that the blockade has been successful in thwarting large ships that carry more than two million barrels of crude oil, but it has not always been successful with the smaller tankers that can carry 500,000 barrels.
“The U.S. blockade is an overwhelming success at preventing vessels laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals from leaving the Gulf of Oman,” Shelley said. “It’s just that there are some opportunistic small tankers that are just managing to breach the blockade.”
The Trump administration first imposed a blockade in the strait in April, which lasted until June, when a temporary ceasefire was reached. It was reinstated in July and has been active since.
Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.

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