PR in the Philippines

(SeaPRwire) –   According to maritime intelligence, sanctioned tankers masquerading as Iraqi vessels are transporting hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Iranian crude, as President Donald Trump has intensified the port blockade to cut off Tehran’s critical oil lifeline.

On Wednesday, Windward AI alleged that a group of U.S.-sanctioned tankers are falsifying their location data to appear as if they are anchored off the coast of Iraq, while secretly loading Iranian oil at ports inside Iran.

“Four VLCCs (very large crude carriers) are among the vessels spoofing their locations in the area identified by Windward: Alicia (IMO 9281695), RHN (IMO 9208215), Star Forest (9237632) and Aqua (IMO 9248473). These ships are sailing under a range of flags, including fraudulent registries from Curacao and Malawi,” the firm told Digital.

“Each of these four VLCCs can carry roughly 2 million barrels of oil, so the four combined have a capacity of 8 million barrels, valued at approximately $800 million at a price point of $100 per barrel,” Windward stated.

These disclosures came as Trump announced on Wednesday that he will maintain the naval blockade on Iran until the country agrees to a deal that addresses U.S. concerns over its nuclear program.

The U.S. administration has demanded that Iran dismantle its uranium enrichment program, while Tehran holds that enrichment is a sovereign right and not open to negotiation, leaving almost no room for compromise between the two sides.

Windward AI observed a “cluster” of sanctioned tankers falsifying their locations, all detected to the west of the Strait of Hormuz.

“A cluster of 10 U.S.-sanctioned tankers that trade with Iran are currently spoofing their AIS location data to falsely show they are anchored at moorings off Basrah, Iraq, as the blockade continues to restrict operations at Iranian ports,” Windward explained.

“The vessels identified by Windward Multi-Source Intelligence are manipulating their broadcast signals to create a false digital alibi for their activities,” the intelligence firm claimed.

“By transmitting fake destination messages indicating they are heading to Iraqi ports, the tankers appear to be operating in Iraqi waters while they covertly sail to Iran to load sanctioned oil.

“Once loading is complete, the vessels reappear on AIS tracking systems to imply the cargo has a legitimate Iraqi origin.”

The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports launched on April 13, as part of a broader campaign to pressure Iran into renegotiating restrictions on its nuclear program.

The blockade has been rolled out in phases, starting with naval deployments and targeted maritime enforcement measures designed to limit Iran’s oil exports and broader economic activity.

Windward reported that as of Wednesday, more than two dozen tankers are trapped west of the Strait of Hormuz, with the blockade reducing Iranian oil loadings and exports by more than half.

“This deceptive practice is facing heightened scrutiny, as these vessels are part of a larger group of over two dozen tankers currently confined west of Hormuz,” the firm said.

“The handysize tanker Paola and Long Range One tanker Adena both broadcast signals claiming an ‘Iraqi owner’, but are connected to a sanctioned shipping network.”

The firm alleged that three medium-range tankers, including Aqualis, Kush and Charminar, plus the LPG carrier Royal H (IMO 9155341) which was newly sanctioned in February, are showing “erratic voyage trails to give the impression they loaded cargo at the Iraqi port of Khor Al Zubair.”

“The obvious signs of spoofing, including irregular tracking patterns and fake port signals, highlight the evolving tactics used by the dark fleet as the blockade cuts Iranian oil loadings and exports by more than half,” the firm said.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Mohammad Ghalibaf criticized U.S. policymakers on Wednesday, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, over the impact of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

The parliamentary speaker cited “junk advice” and blamed the Treasury Department for driving up global oil prices.

“Three days in, no well exploded,” Ghalibaf said in a post shared on X.