A trove of over 10,000 emails has uncovered how Iran is evading Western sanctions and continuing to trade oil globally. The data leak, originating from the Sahara Thunder network, reveals the intricate workings behind Iran’s covert oil operations. From March 2022 to February 2024, Sahara Thunder helped ship nearly 20 million barrels of Iranian crude, valued at approximately $1.7 billion.
The leaked documents include deceptive tactics employed by the network, such as using fake ship identities, altering tracking signals, and forging paperwork. One example includes the Panama-flagged oil tanker Remy, which disguised Iranian oil as Iraqi crude, as shown in a forged certificate of origin. The Remy was one of 34 vessels that formed part of the vast fleet used to transport Iranian oil across the globe.
Despite heavy sanctions aimed at curbing Tehran’s oil exports, Iran has continued to generate significant revenue, with oil sales estimated at $53 billion in 2023. The leaked emails confirm that Iran’s oil trade thrives through a network of shadow tankers, which conceal their true origins and bypass regulations, supplying buyers in Asia, primarily China.
In response to the revelations, the U.S. sanctioned Sahara Thunder in April 2024, calling it a front company for Iran’s government and its elite Revolutionary Guards. However, despite the sanctions, the company’s activities appear to be ongoing, with its website redirecting to a Chinese sports gambling page. Iran, meanwhile, has yet to comment on the leak or the findings.
The Sahara Thunder leak sheds new light on the complex global network that sustains Iran’s oil industry, illustrating how Tehran continues to bypass international scrutiny and sanctions.
