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Ships added to and removed from sanctions list
On Oct 8, 2026, the USA imposed sanctions on 22 tankers and several individuals and companies linked to Iran’s oil trade. The U.S. Treasury Department designated 17 vessels and their associated companies under Operation Economic Outcast, while the State Department announced sanctions against another five vessels, ten entities and six individuals involved in trading Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products. The sanctions target vessels operating under flags from more than a dozen jurisdictions, with ownership spread across companies registered in the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong, China, the British Virgin Islands and elsewhere. Among the vessels newly designated by Treasury was the 'Shenzen', which allegedly has transported more than 3.5 million barrels of Iranian crude since November 2025. The 'Tina 5' (IMO: 9237761) allegedly transported more than 1.5 million barrels of Iranian crude in August alone. Other vessels targeted in the action have carried naphtha, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol and other petrochemical products to markets across Asia and the Middle East. Among them were the 'Starway' (IMO: 9273246), which has transported more than three million barrels of Iranian naphtha since 2025, and the 'King Chain' (IMO: 9277761), which has carried several million barrels of Iranian methanol to China since 2023. The designations also cover the companies behind the vessels, targeting the ownership and operating networks used to move Iranian cargoes through international markets. The department also removed two vessels, the 'Hakuna Matata' (IMO: 9354167) and 'Pinocchio' (IMO: 9400112), from its sanctions list after determining that they had left Iran’s shadow fleet and were sold to operators not subject to sanctions.
Tanker cleared from suspicion
Israeli inspectors conducted an extensive examination onboard the 'Minerva Helen' as it launched a probe and found no source of oil spill onboard. that polluted 40 per cent of its Mediterranean coast in one of the worst ecological disasters. On Feb 27 Israel gave clearance to the docked vessel that it had held under suspicion. The Israeli government had raised speculations that it may have caused the humongous tar pollution following an oil leak into the ocean that was now threatening marine ecosystem along the Israeli coast. While the Minerva Marine Inc. denied involvement saying that the ship was in ballast at the time of the incident, the Israeli government’s environmental protection wing dispatched an investigation team to probe the vessel it held accountable for the maritime disaster. The investigation was conducted conjointly with the Hellenic Coast Guard. Earlier, dismissing Israel’s accusations and state media reports, the Greek shipowners labelled Israel’s indictment as ‘baseless and irrational’ as layers of oil blanketed the 96 miles shoreline stretching from the Gaza Strip to Lebanon with tons of tar polluting the sea.
Tanker named as suspect for oil pollution
The 'Minerva Helen', which was anchored off Cartagena from Feb 21-23, 2021,, has been named by an Israeli news outlet as a suspect in the oil spill disaster that has seen almost all of Israel’s Mediterranean beaches closed down because of tar pollution. The Kan public broadcaster reported on Feb 22 that the tanker is suspected in this month’s incident and was previously involved in a major oil spill just off Copenhagen in January 2008 when 200 tons of oil leaked out after a hose broke while oil was being loaded onto another vessel. The Greek company that owns the ship denied any involvement in the suspected spill off the coast of Israel and additionally denied responsibility for the incident off the Danish coast. On Feb 22 a cabinet meeting to discuss emergency funding for the cleanup saw political mudslinging and the refusal of the Finance Ministry to approve the Environmental Protection Ministry’s request. The meeting ended without a decision and a phone vote was expected to take place later on Feb 23. Reports of the pollution on Israel’s coast emerged on Feb 18 when a dead 17-meter baby fin whale washed up on Israel’s southern coast, along with other wildlife. The government on Feb 21 advised Israelis to avoid all Mediterranean beaches from north to south due to the pollution. The coast was still largely contaminated, especially in rocky areas. A long period will be needed to clear the tar contamination from the beaches and the rocky areas, including the abrasion platforms that serve as habitats for many marine creatures. These are areas of bedrock that extend out from the foot of coastal cliffs into shallow waters.
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