The US says it has identified at least six Panamanian-flagged tankers carrying Iranian crude this year as it put pressure on the registry to enforce its sanctions regime.
The US deputy special envoy for Iran, Abram Paley, urged Panama to end its association with tankers and operators trying to “abuse” the registry by hauling sanctioned oil.
Panama is the second-largest registry by gross tonnage worldwide, second only to Liberia, but it boasts a larger number of ships, totalling 8,321 vessels, according to Clarksons’ World Fleet Monitor. It represents about 20% of the world fleet by gross tonnage.
“Sanctions enforcement and multilateral cooperation are paramount in confronting Iran’s destabilising behaviour,” Paley said on X.
He was later quoted as saying by news agency AFP that “Iran and actors related to Iran are trying to evade sanctions here in Panama”.
“They’re trying to abuse Panama’s flag registry.”
Panama said in January last year that it had ejected 136 ships in the previous four years because of direct links to the National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC).
NIOC has strong links with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is coordinating the country’s sanctions evasion campaign, according to the US Treasury.
The pressure on Panama follows criticism from pressure group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which says that nearly 40% of tankers carrying Iranian crude operate under the Panamanian flag.
‘Scratching the surface’
“While the pressure on Panama to withdraw its flag from six vessels represents a significant step forward, it is crucial to recognise that this effort scratches the surface of a much larger issue,” said UANI.
“Given the scale of its registry, Panama must intensify its efforts to scrutinise and monitor the entities utilising its flag.
“It’s not merely about complying with a request from the US; it’s about Panama taking a stand for global security and adhering to international sanctions regimes.”
The US reimposed sanctions on Iran in 2018 as part of former president Donald Trump’s maximum-pressure campaign against Tehran.
Panama’s deputy foreign minister Vladimir Franco confirmed on X that he met with Paley for talks on “maritime cooperation” between the two countries.
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