Why Iran’s Shadow Oil Fleet Is So Hard for Trump to Stop | WSJ

The Wall Street Journal • 2026-05-29T14:00:21Z • 7:22:00 • intermediate • News

Lead

Discover the hidden world of Iran's shadow oil fleet, where aging tankers evade sanctions and navigate through busy shipping lanes, all while carrying millions of barrels of crude oil to China.

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Quiz

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Q1. What is the primary purpose of the AIS information that ships broadcast?

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Q2. What tactic do the ghost ships use to avoid detection?

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Q3. Where do these tankers typically transfer their oil?

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Q4. What is the significance of the Strait of Malacca in the context of oil trade?

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Q5. What was the response of the U.S. government to Iran's oil trade?

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Vocabulary

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blockade

/bloʊˈkeɪd/

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Definition

An act of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving.

Example

The government imposed a blockade to stop the flow of illegal goods across the border.

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sanctioned

/ˈsæŋkʃənd/

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Definition

Official permission or approval for an action; also refers to penalties imposed on countries or individuals for breaking laws or rules.

Example

The country faced heavy sanctions after violating international treaties.

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ghost vessels

/ɡoʊst ˈvɛsəlz/

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Definition

Ships that are abandoned or operate without proper registration and identification.

Example

The ghost vessels in the area were difficult to track due to their lack of identification.

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choke point

/ˈtʃoʊk pɔɪnt/

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Definition

A strategic narrow route or location where traffic can be restricted or controlled.

Example

The canal is a critical choke point for global shipping routes.

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jurisdiction

/ˌdʒʊrɪsˈdɪkʃən/

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Definition

The official power to make legal decisions and judgments.

Example

The court has jurisdiction over cases arising in this region.

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deceptive

/dɪˈsɛptɪv/

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Definition

Intended to make someone believe something that is not true; misleading.

Example

The deceptive advertising led many consumers to buy a product that did not meet their expectations.

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