How Iran’s Ghost Fleet Sidesteps U.S. Sanctions

"Last week, the U.S. Treasury and State Departments announced new sanctions that represent the latest salvo in their fight against so-called “ghost fleets.” And that’s not a reference to Davy Jones or the Flying Dutchman. Rather, the Biden administration slapped penalties on vessels and companies associated with the Iranian government that have enabled an illicit and far-reaching trade in oil to help fund the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program and proxy military forces throughout the Middle East. […] United Against Nuclear Iran, a New York-based, nonprofit advocacy group, is one of the main sources of information on suspected ghost ships registered in countries like the Cook Islands. The chaotic and decentralized nature of ghost fleets make it extremely difficult for countries to determine who, exactly, is transporting oil."