Iran’s “shadow fleet” spotted near Singapore covert oil transfers surge during ceasefire
Satellite imagery reveals a large network of aging oil tankers nearly 400 vessels operating near Southeast Asia, conducting ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to mask the origin of Iranian crude.
The activity is concentrated about 100 km southeast of the Malay Peninsula, where sanctioned and uninsured tankers quietly move oil between ships at sea, effectively “laundering” its origin before onward delivery, often toward China.
Many of these vessels reportedly disable GPS tracking or manipulate location data to avoid detection by the U.S. and its allies, making enforcement extremely difficult in semi-international waters.
Experts from the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft say dozens of such transfers are occurring weekly, with no slowdown even during active conflict or intensified sanctions.
Analysts from the Atlantic Council note that inconsistent U.S. policies — including temporary allowances followed by strict crackdowns — have pushed Iran to rely more heavily on these covert networks rather than formal exports.
With a temporary U.S. waiver set to expire on April 19, underground oil trade in the region is expected to intensify further, raising concerns over enforcement gaps and escalating economic tensions.