Malaysia is shocked, shocked to find Iranian-linked tankers slipping through its waters | Fortune

"Malaysia's maritime agency says Iranian-linked tankers are exploiting "jurisdictional gaps" to conduct ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned oil near its waters, rejecting allegations that authorities ignored a long-running trade allowing Iran to evade U.S. sanctions."

"U.S.-based advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) and shipping industry observers say waters near Malaysia's southern Johor state have become a key hub for ship-to-ship transfers involving Iran's "shadow fleet" - aging tankers that often operate with disabled tracking systems, false identities and opaque ownership structures to conceal the origins of crude bound largely for China."

"UANI says there have been 42 ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil conducted in the EOPL area since Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, starting a war in the Middle East. UANI used satellite imagery to observe the operations."

"Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Director-General Mohamad Rosli Abdullah said the transfers are often done outside the country's territorial waters and in remote areas beyond radar coverage, especially in locations near maritime boundaries or international shipping routes. "The selection of such locations is intended to exploit jurisdictional gaps and limit direct"

Iranian-linked tankers are accused of using jurisdictional gaps to conduct ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned oil near Malaysia’s waters. U.S. advocacy and shipping observers say the area near Johor has become a hub for transfers involving Iran’s “shadow fleet,” with aging tankers using disabled tracking systems, false identities, and opaque ownership to conceal crude origins. The Eastern Outer Port Limits in the South China Sea lies about 70 kilometers off Johor along a major trade route and is roughly halfway between Iran and China, which buys most Iranian oil. U.S. officials previously said Iranian exports rely on service providers and ship-to-ship transfers near Malaysian waters. UANI reports 42 transfers since Feb. 28 using satellite imagery, while Malaysian maritime authorities say transfers often occur outside territorial waters in remote areas beyond radar coverage.

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