New U.S. Target? Iran’s ‘Dark Fleet’ Long Accused Of Skirting The Rules.

The U.S. military is taking its blockade of Iran global, targeting Tehran’s shadowy “dark fleet” in a move aimed at choking off the regime’s illicit oil lifeline.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned that the U.S. Navy will “actively pursue” Iranian-linked ships not just in the Middle East, but in other theaters as well.

“The joint force through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility like the Pacific … will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” he said. “This includes dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil.”

Caine described the “dark fleet” as illicit or illegal ships “evading international regulations, sanctions or insurance requirements.”

The announcement marks a significant expansion of the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastline into a worldwide enforcement effort. United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI) has identified more than 570 vessels as part of Tehran’s so-called “dark fleet,” many of which are already under U.S. sanctions imposed by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

One such sanctioned vessel, the Rich Starry, drew international attention this week after appearing to successfully transit the Strait of Hormuz before turning back toward Iranian waters after reportedly facing the blockade. The Chinese-owned tanker bound for China, carrying roughly 250,000 barrels of methanol loaded from the United Arab Emirates, is flagged to the landlocked country of Malawi — an indicator it is likely part of Iran’s “dark fleet” using false registration to evade sanctions. The vessel previously sailed under the name Full Star when it was added to the Treasury Department’s sanctions list in early 2023.

United States Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) issued an update about the blockade expansion, announcing that “all Iranian vessels with OFAC sanctions, and vessels suspected of carrying contraband, are subject to belligerent right to visit and search” regardless of location, according to Seatrade Maritime News.

Caine said that the blockade will apply to all ships, regardless of nationality, and that U.S. forces will enforce it both in international waters and “inside Iran’s territorial seas.”

He added that U.S. forces have yet to board any targeted vessels, but that 13 have turned around rather than attempt to break the blockade.

According to OFAC, Iran’s illicit fleet serves as the “regime’s primary source of revenue for financing domestic repression, terrorist proxies, and weapons programs.”

The Treasury Department has also ramped up pressure through what it calls “Operation Economic Fury,” warning that financial institutions worldwide face consequences for facilitating Iran’s oil trade. The move also included new sanctions on more than two dozen individuals, companies, and vessels on Wednesday.

“Treasury is moving aggressively with Economic Fury, maintaining maximum pressure on Iran,” the department said, adding that it is prepared to use the full range of authorities — including secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions that continue to support Tehran.

The department also said a short-term authorization allowing the sale of Iranian oil stranded at sea will expire within days and will not be renewed. The waiver, issued on March 20, permitted the sale of roughly 140 million barrels of oil already loaded onto vessels.

Under OFAC rules, sanctioned individuals and companies have any assets in the United States frozen, and businesses they own are also restricted. U.S. citizens and residents generally cannot do business with them, and foreign companies that help them can face secondary sanctions. Some violations can lead to civil or criminal penalties.