An Iranian tanker, the SOGL, has successfully evaded a US naval blockade and delivered its cargo of liquefied petroleum gas to China.
What happened
The tanker loaded approximately 500,000 barrels of LPG at Iran's Assaluyeh Port in late August and left the blockade zone on September 1. It then stopped at an anchorage off Malaysia, where it received fuel and services, before sailing north through the South China Sea to Qinzhou Port in China's Guangxi region.
The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control added the vessel to its sanctions list on October 8. Despite this, the tanker was able to complete its delivery, highlighting the challenges faced by the US in enforcing its blockade.
According to a US advocacy group, United Against Nuclear Iran, the anchorage off Malaysia is a key node in Iran's oil trade to China, and Malaysian authorities appear to be turning a blind eye to the activities of Iranian tankers.
The successful delivery of the SOGL's cargo is a significant development in the ongoing dispute over Iran's oil exports, which have been subject to a US blockade since July. The blockade has had a significant impact on Iran's oil exports, with shipments falling sharply since its imposition.
