A vessel identified as the SOGL transported Iranian liquefied petroleum gas through a U.S. maritime blockade and completed delivery to China during September, according to United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). The tanker loaded cargo at Assaluyeh Port in late August and breached the blockade on September 1, later refueling at a Malaysian anchorage before proceeding to a Chinese port for discharge.
The Treasury Department subsequently sanctioned the Comoros-flagged vessel in October, designating it as part of a broader shadow fleet involved in transporting Iranian energy products. Officials stated the tanker had moved more than two million barrels of Iranian propane and butane since the previous year. Treasury leadership characterized the enforcement action as part of efforts to reduce revenue flowing to the Iranian government.
Monitoring data indicates the blockade has proven effective in preventing Iranian crude oil exports since its implementation, with no successful crude shipments tracked departing the region during the enforcement period. However, liquefied petroleum gas continues to move in smaller volumes through various mechanisms, including ship-to-ship transfers and vessels that disable tracking transponders. UANI documented approximately nine small liquefied petroleum gas tankers successfully bypassing the blockade line, compared to a complete halt in crude oil exports.
Analysts noted that Malaysian anchorages have become key transshipment points for Iranian energy products destined for Chinese markets, which now receive nearly the entirety of Iran’s exported liquid cargo. The extended blockade has resulted in significant quantities of Iranian crude accumulating in floating storage along the nation’s coast, with empty Iranian-flagged tankers remaining stranded at various international locations following offloading operations abroad.
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