Lafayette Reporter

WASHINGTON – Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) have written a letter urging the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) to investigate potential instances of Iranian oil sanction violations. The senators are concerned about the use of "ghost fleets" to conceal illegal Iranian oil exports.

According to open-source data, Iran and its buyers, including China, employ tactics to evade detection. These tactics include disabling GPS trackers, transferring oil between tankers mid-journey, and "flag hopping" between different national registries. It is believed that there are a significant number of ships registered in Panama that are allegedly involved in transporting Iranian oil in violation of U.S. sanctions.

The senators highlighted the importance of depriving Iran of the financing and resources it uses to fund international terrorism. They also expressed concerns about Iran's involvement in transnational criminal activity and terrorism in the Americas. In their letter to the AMP, the senators stated, "We therefore request that you cooperate with the United States and conduct investigations into a significant number of ships registered in Panama which are alleged to transport Iranian oil in violation of U.S. sanctions."

The senators referenced the nonprofit organization, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which identified 383 vessels suspected to belong to the "ghost fleet." Of these vessels, 189 are flagged in Panama. The senators urged the AMP to take action, as only 28 out of 217 vessels of concern have been de-flagged so far.

The senators also expressed concerns about the AMP's due diligence when it comes to flagging potential ghost vessels. They warned that such practices could potentially be used to evade U.S. sanctions on Russian oil. The senators requested that the AMP thoroughly investigate the alleged involvement of the 189 ships in transporting sanctioned Iranian oil. They also called for the AMP to follow established procedures to de-flag ships with corroborated evidence of involvement and to extend similar scrutiny to vessels suspected of evading sanctions on other countries.

The full letter can be found on the official website.

This call for investigation highlights the ongoing efforts by U.S. lawmakers to enforce sanctions against Iran and prevent the country from using illicit means to export oil. It also underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating illegal activities that threaten regional security and support terrorism. The outcome of the investigation will determine the extent of Iranian oil sanction violations through the use of ghost fleets and could potentially lead to further actions against those involved.

The Panama Maritime Authority has not yet responded to the senators' request for investigation. However, the letter serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility among nations to uphold international sanctions and prevent the funding of terrorism and criminal activities.