- U.S. allows scrap dealer to buy sanctioned Iran ships.
- The U.S. has authorized a ship scrap buyer to purchase four vessels previously sanctioned for links to Iranian cargo.
- These ships are part of the "shadow fleet" used by Iran and Russia to transport sanctioned goods, circumventing Western sanctions.
- The U.S. has previously sanctioned vessels and shipping firms associated with Iran's shadow fleet.
- This move could provide a legal exit for high-risk vessels and may be part of a broader case-by-case licensing approach.
U.S. allows scrap dealer to buy sanctioned Iran ships. The U.S. has granted a license permitting a major ship scrap buyer to purchase four vessels sanctioned for carrying Iranian-linked cargo. The move could open a legal exit route for parts of the “shadow fleet” used to transport sanctioned goods for Iran and Russia, which has expanded under Western sanctions. The ships, tied to an Iran-linked network, will be dismantled for recycling. Officials say the case-by-case licensing approach may be used more broadly, helping remove high-risk vessels from global waters.
May 21, 2026, 3:05:41 PM UTC(5 hours ago)
Impact: MediumAffected Assets
Sources
From:@DeItaone
U.S. ALLOWS SCRAP DEALER TO BUY SANCTIONED IRAN SHIPS
The U.S. has granted a license allowing a major ship scrap buyer to purchase four vessels sanctioned for carrying Iranian-linked cargo.
The move could open a legal exit route for parts of the “shadow fleet” used to transport sanctioned goods for Iran and Russia, which has expanded under Western sanctions.
The ships, tied to an Iran-linked network, will be dismantled for recycling. Officials say the case-by-case licensing approach may be used more broadly, helping remove high-risk vessels from global waters.