How purchases of sanctioned Iranian jet fuel were disguised by Myanmar
The lengths taken to disguise the trade suggest U.S. sanctions are biting, but Iranian jet fuel has continued to flow.
In December 2025, a U.S.-sanctioned tanker named Reef arrived in Myanmar waters carrying approximately 113,000 barrels of Iranian jet fuel, despite the vessel being under a sales contract with a Thai energy broker to receive South African diesel. This transaction, valued at $15.8 million, was essentially a deception, as there was no actual trade between South Africa and Myanmar in 2025, according to data from the United Nations and Vortexa.
Satellite images and analysis by SynMax Intelligence confirmed that the tanker was transporting Iranian jet fuel to Myanmar, highlighting the use of fraudulent paperwork to disguise the purchase of sanctioned fuel.
Brief written by urgent.news from Japan Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- How purchases of sanctioned Iranian jet fuel were disguised by Myanmar jpost.com
- How Myanmar dodged US sanctions to get Iranian jet fuel timesofindia.indiatimes.com
