Iran appears to be sending another ship to Venezuela, security sources told TradeWinds, as Washington works to turn the screws on both countries.
The 22,882-dwt general cargoship Golsan (built 1998) is suspected to be carrying materials to either Venezuela or Cuba to help Venezuela get its oil refineries back online, maritime security consultancy Dryad Global said.
The vessel is expected to arrive in the Americas by 22 June. According to AIS data, the ship was last detected in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 180 nautical miles (333 km) west of Gibraltar.
Dryad said it expects Venezuela to request further gasoline shipments from the Islamic republic in the coming weeks following the successful delivery of 1.53m barrels earlier this month from five Iranian-flagged ships in a gas-for-gold deal.
The two countries have long maintained an alliance of varying strength over the years, and have recently grown closer as the US levies ever more stringent sanctions in an effort to choke out their ruling governments.
The US elected not to interdict any of the five ships, but scared off two Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged tankers with the threat of sanctions.
Washington has since blacklisted four tankers and their registered owners in what was called a "warning shot" for their managers, whose fleets transport a substantial portion of Venezuela's oil exports.
Authorities have further threatened sanctions against more than 40 ships, with the Wall Street Journal reporting on Tuesday that the number could be as high as 50.
The moves have seemed to work, with owners selling ships linked to Venezuela or cancelling shipments.
But Iran's shipping industry is already under sanctions, taking that potential enforcement action off the table.
The US has increased its naval presence in the region, which could be used to detain any further shipments from Iran, but that could be interpreted as an act of war, experts have told TradeWinds.
Public relations positive
The successful delivery of the gasoline was hailed by Venezuelan authorities over the weekend.
"Humanitarian aid is coming from China, Russia, Iran and Cuba. They are [Venezuela’s] true friends," President Nicolas Maduro reportedly said in a speech broadcast by state television.
The shipment was also played up by Iranian authorities, with the country's supreme leader Ali Khamenei lauding the crews of the five Iranian-flagged ships — the 50,100-dwt Clavel and Petunia (both built 2018) and the 35,200-dwt Forest, Fortune and Faxon (all built 2004) — telling them they made the country proud.
"I thank all of you dear ones, captains and crew of the ship. You did a great job. Your move was a great feat," Khamenei said in a statement reported by state media.
The head of its military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the shipments "showcased our might".
