Let’s start with the obvious: sanctions are only useful if enforced. In fact unenforced sanctions, one could argue, are more dangerous than no sanctions at all. Every transgression and violation that goes unchecked emboldens are enemies and makes Biden’s America look weak.
And with Russia, China and Iran —now is not the time to be asleep at the wheel.
But here we are.
According to new reports from the Washington Free Beacon and United Against Nuclear Iran, a “Ghost Armada” of Iranian oil tankers has been operating in not-so-secret, delivering more than $22 billion dollars worth of oil to China in 2022 alone. And yes —this is in violation of sanctions.
“As part of the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018, the White House reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil and tankers to slash regime exports to zero,” United Against Nuclear Iran reports. “In response, Tehran farmed out the work to a parallel fleet of foreign vessels….They form the ‘Ghost Armada,’ a label that echoes the ways in which they evade tracking, scrutiny, and – most critically – sanctions.”
“Four years after the ‘net zero’ export goal was declared, this Ghost Armada transported a total of 889,821 barrels per day (bpd) to China in March 2022,” the report continues.
The Ghost Armada has thrived under Biden, according to the Free Beacon. But Joe & Co. have been looking the other way in order to gain favor in the nuclear talks —and we all know how terribly that’s going. (The Drill Down previously reported on it here, here, and here.)
What’s even worse —the Biden Administration obviously knows about the armada.
According to the Free Beacon, the State Department is aware of China’s importation of illicit Iranian oil and sanctions will “remain in effect unless and until they are lifted, and we will address any effort at sanctions evasion,” a spokesperson for the department said.
Would the State Department like to define “in effect?”
“We have used our sanctions authorities to respond to Iranian sanctions evasion efforts, including those involving China, and will continue to do so as necessary,” the spokesman said, adding that U.S. officials are also addressing the issue with China.
So…we’re trusting China again?
The Ghost Armada “allows the Iranian regime to profit and in turn fund its terrorist activities around the world,” says UANI chief of staff Claire Jungman. “There are clear ties between these vessels and sanctioned entities, and there is no good reason for the Biden administration to have turned a blind eye to this. This lack of action by the Biden administration is only enabling Iran’s bad behavior.”
Between the nuclear talks and the Ghost Armada, the Biden Administration has been great for Iran.
