Iran is aiding Syria’s efforts to evade sanctions by transporting its crude oil, potentially allowing Bashar al-Assad to raise -desperately needed income.
One vessel, linked to Iran’s state-owned Islamic Republic International Shipping line, -disguised the origin of its cargo – Syrian light crude oil – and evaded detection by EU and US officials by switching flags and registering different companies as its owner at various points on its journey, according to documents obtained by the Financial Times.
The MT Tour, operated by IRISL, sailed from the Syrian port of Tartus to Larak Island, off the coast of Iran. The voyage flies in the face of the international community’s efforts to choke Syrian government finances as it fights a 14-month uprising.