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Iran’s $800M oil smuggling scheme uses tankers posing as Iraqi ships to dodge blockade
Sanctioned tankers disguised as Iraqi vessels are moving hundreds of millions of dollars in Iranian crude as President Donald Trump doubled down on the port blockade to squeeze Tehran’s oil lifeline, according to maritime intelligence.
Windward AI claimed Wednesday that a group of U.S.-sanctioned tankers are falsifying their location data to come off as anchored off Iraq while secretly loading Iranian oil at Iranian ports.
“Among the tankers spoofing their location in the area identified by Windward are four VLCCs: Alicia (IMO 9281695), RHN (IMO 9208215), Star Forest (9237632), and Aqua (IMO 9248473), using various flags, including fraudulent registries from Curacao and Malawi,” the firm told Fox News Digital.
“For the four VLCCs, each VLCC can hold about 2 million barrels, so four of them would hold 8 million barrels, worth about $800 million at $100 per barrel,” Windward said.
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This came as Trump said Wednesday he will keep Iran under a naval blockade until it agrees to a deal addressing U.S. concerns about its nuclear program.
The U.S. administration has demanded that Iran dismantle its uranium enrichment program, while Tehran maintains that enrichment is a sovereign right and nonnegotiable, leaving little room for compromise.
Windward AI noted a “cluster” sanctioned tankers spoofing locations and sighted to the West of the Strait of Hormuz.
“A cluster of 10 Iran-trading, U.S.-sanctioned tankers is now spoofing its AIS location to falsely appear at anchorages off Basrah, Iraq, as the blockade continues to constrict Iranian ports,” Windward explained.
“The vessels identified by Windward Multi-Source Intelligence are manipulating their signals to create a digital alibi,” the intelligence firm claimed.
“By broadcasting fake destination messages to Iraqi ports, the tankers appear to be in Iraqi waters while covertly sailing to Iran to load sanctioned oil.
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“Once loaded, the vessels re-emerge on AIS to suggest a legitimate Iraqi origin for the cargo.”
The U.S. blockade on Iranian ports began April 13 as part of a broader effort to pressure Iran into renegotiating limits on its nuclear program.
The blockade has unfolded in stages, starting with naval deployments and restricted maritime enforcement to limit Iran’s oil exports and economic activity.
Windward said more than two dozen tankers are currently confined west of Hormuz as of Wednesday, with the blockade cutting Iranian oil loadings and exports by more than half.
“This deceptive practice is under intensified scrutiny as the vessels are part of a larger group of more than two dozen tankers currently confined west of Hormuz,” the firm said.
“The handysize tanker Paola and Long Range One tanker Adena, both signaling ‘Iraqi owner’ but linked to a sanctioned network.”
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The firm claimed three medium-range tankers, including Aqualis, Kush and Charminar, and the LPG carrier Royal H (IMO 9155341), which was newly sanctioned in February, are currently displaying “erratic voyage trails to suggest a loading at the Iraqi port of Khor Al Zubair.”
“The tell-tale spoofing signs, including erratic patterns and fake port signals, highlight the shifting tactics used by the dark fleet as the blockade more than halves Iranian oil loadings and exports,” the firm said.
Meanwhile. Iran’s Mohammad Ghalibaf slammed U.S. policymakers Wednesday, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, over the impact of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
The parliamentary speaker cited “junk advice” and blamed the Treasury for pushing up oil prices.
“Three days in, no well exploded,” Ghalibaf said in a post shared on X.
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Raiders legend gives blessing to first overall pick Fernando Mendoza to wear No. 15: ‘He’s perfect’
One of the first major decisions for some rookies after the NFL Draft is what jersey number they wish to wear to kick off their careers.
Sometimes, those numbers work against the rookies, whether it’s players already owning their desired digits or a retired number getting in the way.
Las Vegas Raiders first overall pick Fernando Mendoza had a slight hiccup for his No. 15 heading into the draft. But the man known for the number by the franchise gave his blessing to the quarterback of the future.
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“He deserves my blessing,” ex-Raiders quarterback and coach Tom Flores said about Mendoza donning No. 15 next season, according to the team’s official website. “Because if he’s not the real deal, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
The Raiders never formally retired Flores’ number, but he wanted to make sure to let Mendoza know how much he wants him to wear the number Mendoza starred in for the Hoosiers.
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“He’s perfect,” Flores said of the Heisman Trophy winner. “He can make every throw. He can make the plays. What can’t he do? He does it all. He’s fun to watch.”
Flores rocked No. 15 for the Raiders from 1960-66, throwing for over 11,000 yards and 92 touchdowns during that span. He also starred for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days.
After retiring, Flores went into coaching with his old Raiders squad and ended up leading them to a Super Bowl victory in 1981. Then, in 2021, Flores was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mendoza was asked about Flores’ blessing to wear No. 15.
“It speaks to the testament of once a Raider, always a Raider. Of how involved the alumni is. And I’m so blessed to be a part of this organization,” Mendoza said.
“I can’t thank [Flores] enough. I’m so blessed.”
Mendoza enters his NFL career with high expectations, not just being the No. 1 overall pick, but playing for a proud franchise that is hoping to get back to its Super Bowl-winning ways.
Mendoza will join the rest of the Raiders’ rookie class at minicamp Friday.
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Small-town Virginia mayor reportedly arrested for allegedly showing up drunk to train derailment
A recently elected mayor of a small town in Virginia was arrested Tuesday after allegedly showing up to a train derailment site while intoxicated, according to local reports.
Paul Morrison, the 57-year-old mayor of Rich Creek, was taken into custody on a charge of public intoxication, WSLS reported, citing jail records.
The train derailment occurred in the afternoon near Rich Creek, which sits along the border of West Virginia and Virginia, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) said.
The agency added that portions of the incident were reported inside West Virginia and that the train belonged to Norfolk Southern Railway.
Contaminants of soybean oil had reportedly leaked. Officials confirmed it was considered non-hazardous and that crews are conducting recovery operations.
After the incident, Morrison reportedly showed up intoxicated and was subsequently arrested by deputies with the Giles County Sheriff’s Office, WSLS said, citing sources.
Details of what led to the incident and Morrison’s arrest are not immediately clear.
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He was taken to the New River Valley Regional Jail and later released on his own recognizance, according to jail records, the outlet added.
Morrison is the mayor of a small, historic town with a population of roughly 750 people.
He reportedly became mayor in November after a write-in campaign. Out of 106 votes cast, 77 residents manually wrote in Morrison’s name, according to local outlet Cardinal News.
His victory follows a recent leadership shakeup in the small community, where five of six Rich Creek Town Council members, as well as the previous mayor appointed in early 2025, abruptly resigned, the outlet reported.
Former Mayor Anne Chambers said her resignation came after internal conflicts and a hostile work environment reached a breaking point, according to Cardinal News.
Fox News Digital reached out to Rich Creek, Giles County Sheriff’s Office and the New River Valley Regional Jail for more information.
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