Iran’s Shadow Fleet Of Oil Tankers In Strait Of Hormuz Generates $25-30 Billion A Year: Here’s How

Last Updated:March 11, 2026, 15:22 IST

Explainer: Iran maintains control over a “shadow fleet” of approximately 400 to 430 tankers in Strait of Hormuz to bypass international sanctions and sustain its oil exports

Amid the US-Israel-Iran war, Strait of Hormuz has become a key flashpoint. While Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared the critical oil chokepoint “shut", News18 reported how China has quietly emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the crisis by securing discounted Iranian oil, gathering valuable military data, and expanding its strategic reach in the region.

A key pillar of this trade, the News18 report said, is a covert maritime network known as the ‘shadow fleet’. Intelligence assessments indicate that nearly 400 vessels are involved in transporting sanctioned Iranian crude across global waters. China is the dominant end-buyer in this network, with most shipments ultimately heading to its independent “teapot" refineries.

What is the shadow fleet? News18 explains

Iran maintains control over a “shadow fleet" of approximately 400 to 430 tankers to bypass international sanctions and sustain its oil exports. This network, primarily overseen by the IRGC, generates an estimated $25–$30 billion annually, which is used to fund military operations and regional proxies.

METHODS OF OPERATIONAL CONTROL

Iran exerts control through a sophisticated “parallel system" that avoids mainstream maritime compliance:

The fleet utilizes a vast web of shell and front companies registered in jurisdictions with limited oversight, such as Hong Kong, the UAE, Panama, and the Marshall Islands, according to reports.

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Vessels frequently change their country of registration (their “flag") to hide true ownership. Currently, roughly 62% of identified shadow vessels are falsely flagged, News18 report said.

Tankers routinely disable their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders or use “spoofing" techniques to broadcast fake locations, making them invisible to standard global tracking, it added.

THE TACTICS

Ship-to-Ship (STS) Transfers: Oil is transferred between tankers in international waters—often near Malaysia, Oman, or the Gulf of Oman—to hide the cargo’s Iranian origin.

The crude is typically loaded near Iran’s Kharg Island, then transferred through ship-to-ship operations in remote waters off Oman, Malaysia or the Gulf of Oman. From there, the cargo is relabelled as oil from other origins before entering international markets.

Blending and Relabeling: Iranian crude is often mixed with oil from other countries and shipped with fraudulent documentation that lists incorrect origins. Many vessels constantly change names and flags, often registering in jurisdictions such as Comoros or Panama, while ownership is hidden behind shell companies in hubs like the UAE, Hong Kong and Dubai. The network ferries 1.3-1.6 million barrels per day of heavily discounted Iranian crude to China despite US sanctions pressure.

STRATEGIC CONTROL

Recent escalations have shifted Iran’s method of control from covert evasion to overt maritime dominance:

As of March 11, the IRGC claims full control over the Strait of Hormuz, treating it as a “wartime" waterway.

While international shipping has largely collapsed (down over 90%), Iran continues to export crude by allowing only its shadow fleet and certain China-linked vessels to pass through the strait.

Iran has reportedly struck more than ten tankers that ignored its warnings in the strategic passage, effectively scaring off competitors and securing the route for its own illicit trade.

THE ECONOMICS

China remains the dominant end-buyer, with its independent “teapot" refineries receiving 1.3–1.6 million barrels per day of discounted Iranian crude.

Iran’s system is increasingly integrated with other sanctioned nations; for instance, some tankers have been used to transport both Iranian and Venezuelan oil interchangeably.

News explainers Iran’s Shadow Fleet Of Oil Tankers In Strait Of Hormuz Generates $25-30 Billion A Year: Here’s How

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