All articles tagged with #dark fleet
China is resisting U.S. demands to stop buying oil from Iran and Russia, asserting its sovereignty and energy security, while secretly purchasing Iranian oil via a 'dark fleet' to evade sanctions. Despite ongoing trade negotiations and threats of tariffs, China remains committed to its energy interests, complicating U.S. efforts to reduce revenue for Russia and Iran amid broader geopolitical tensions.
CBS News investigation reveals China is secretly buying Iranian oil via a 'dark fleet' in international waters to evade U.S. sanctions, with multiple ship-to-ship transfers observed in the Riau archipelago, highlighting ongoing illicit trade despite sanctions.
Recent incidents in the Red Sea involving Iran-backed Houthi rebels targeting ships carrying Russian oil highlight the risks faced by Russia's "dark fleet" of oil tankers, which transport sanctioned Russian oil with opaque ownership and frequently changing vessel names and flag registrations. The rebels targeted a ship "mistakenly" listed with a UK owner, and have been attacking commercial ships in retaliation for Israel's bombings in Gaza, leading to disruptions in global shipping routes. Some ships are identifying themselves as linked to Russia or rerouting to avoid being targeted.