In recent years, Iran has increasingly used fake ship registrations to evade sanctions. According to reports, nearly 300 Iran-related ships have been identified in the past 90 days operating under false flags. This issue has prompted a warning from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Increase in Number and Types of Ships
Research shows that in the past 18 months, Iran has not only increased the number of its ships with fake registrations but has also expanded this method to other types of vessels. According to Windward data, from August 6 to November 5, 278 ships under 23 fake registrations have been operating in the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, and Sea of Oman. Of these, 190 ships (equivalent to 68%) have been identified as tankers, 171 of which are under sanctions.
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Details of Fake Registrations
Among the fake registrations, the flag of Nicaragua leads with 53 ships, followed by the United Kingdom with 39 ships and the Caribbean Netherlands with 27 ships. Additionally, 22 out of 38 general cargo ships have been registered under a fake British flag. The average age of the identified ships is 26 years, and 5 out of 7 container ships have also been registered under the flag of Guyana. LPG tankers also constitute 17% of the total ships.
In the same period last year, 268 ships with fake registrations were identified in the same area, but the number of general cargo ships has increased more than threefold to 38. Meanwhile, the number of tankers has decreased to 190, indicating the impact of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports since mid-July.
Criminal Networks and Sale of Fake Flags
In its warning, OFAC stated that ship owners and operators engaged in evading U.S. sanctions have increasingly relied on fake flags. On November 4, it referred to 13 individuals and companies, mainly based in Chandigar, India, who have formed a criminal network selling fake flags to Iranian ships. This network includes Sunil Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jastri Peti, who have established companies acting as flag registrars and maritime service providers in various countries.
Given these developments, it is clear that Iran is seeking new ways to circumvent sanctions and continue its economic activities, which could have serious implications for the global oil market and maritime security.
Read more: Changing the Flags of Sanctioned Ships to Nicaraguan Numbers Near Hormuz · FGE NexantECA Predicts Low Likelihood of U.S.-Iran Agreement
