Iraqi naval forces seized an oil tanker near the Port of Basra for carrying undocumented fuel, a move officials say is a significant part of a broader crackdown on oil smuggling. This campaign is being intensified under pressure from the United States, which alleges that Iran is using Iraqi ports to bypass sanctions.
The Seizure and Anti-Smuggling Efforts
Iraqi naval forces intercepted a Liberian-flagged oil tanker near the Basra Oil Terminal. The vessel was carrying approximately 250,000 tonnes of undocumented black oil, a clear violation of maritime regulations. The seizure, which involved a fleet of naval and port patrol boats, is part of a wider Iraqi government initiative to enhance maritime surveillance and curb illegal fuel exports. This problem has been a persistent issue for the country’s energy sector.
U.S. Pressure and Sanctions Evasion
The increased Iraqi action is a direct response to growing U.S. pressure. The U.S. government is actively working to disrupt what it refers to as Iran’s “shadow fleet,” which utilizes a network of vessels and intermediaries to facilitate the global movement of sanctioned Iranian oil. An Iraqi Oil Ministry official confirmed that Washington has been pressing Baghdad to prevent Iran from using its ports to export oil or blend it with Iraqi crude to evade sanctions. The U.S. Treasury has previously sanctioned an Iraqi business network for allegedly generating billions by disguising Iranian oil as Iraqi shipments.
Allegations of Forged Documents
The connection between Iranian and Iraqi oil smuggling has been highlighted by both U.S. and Iraqi officials. The Iraqi Oil Minister acknowledged that the U.S. has warned Iraq about potential sanctions against its state oil marketer over alleged violations related to shipments linked to Iran. The minister noted that U.S. naval forces have detained tankers carrying Iraqi shipping manifests that were later discovered to be Iranian vessels using forged Iraqi documents. While the minister insists that the state oil marketer operates transparently, the government is taking measures, such as blacklisting certain foreign tankers, to combat these smuggling rings and safeguard Iraq’s energy sector from potential U.S. sanctions.
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Source: The New Arab
