Iran Acquires Chinese Port Facilities to Bypass US Sanctions
Iran has quietly purchased port facilities and oil terminals in China to maintain oil exports despite a US Navy blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
Leaked confidential correspondence reveals that Iran has been quietly acquiring control of port facilities and oil terminals in China to bypass U.S. sanctions on oil exports. Documents obtained by Iran International show the Iranian Foreign Ministry negotiated the purchase of facilities at three Chinese locations and acquired stakes in docks in Shandong province to serve independent refiners.
To facilitate the movement of sanctioned crude, Iran secured long-term leases on large oil storage facilities to create a strategic hub. These operations relied on shadow fleet vessels controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of former political adviser Ali Shamkhani. Ali Shamkhani reportedly instructed intermediaries to use these vessels to maintain trade with China.
These clandestine acquisitions come as Iran faces significant pressure in the Gulf of Oman. While the Iranian government publicly claims it can dodge the U.S. Navy blockade, vessel-tracking data indicates that oil exports have plunged since August and floating storage has been drained.
