The U.S. imposed new sanctions on over 30 entities and vessels linked to Iran’s “shadow fleet,” targeting operators in India, China, UAE, and Hong Kong. Earlier, Trump’s sanctions hit three Iran-linked oil tankers.
Last year, Trump vowed at the Republican National Convention to curb Iranian oil exports, claiming he had previously pressured China and others by threatening tariffs and trade restrictions.StanChart suggests Iranian oil could be central to Trump’s broader China trade strategy.
A Trump win may lead to stricter Iran sanctions, cutting exports and driving oil prices up, noted Vivek Dhar of Commonwealth Bank of Australia.China continues importing Iranian oil through intermediaries, using an aging “dark fleet” of tankers with unclear insurance coverage, according to multiple reports.
These transfers pose risks, including spills and collisions, as numerous low-quality tankers crowd narrow trade routes with their transponders turned off.
