Iranian oil exports aided by ‘near 300-strong shadow fleet’

Iran increased its oil exports in 2022 with nearly 300 ‘dark fleet’ tankers involved in carrying its crude in the face of US sanctions, according to vessel trackers at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). China was the largest customer by far, receiving more than 70% of the 430 million barrels of Iranian crude oil, followed by Syria and Venezuela, said the US-based group. It said that the US must do more to target the trade despite sanctioning 16 tankers in 2022.