Exclusive: Iran Ships "Off Radar" As Tehran Conceals Oil Sales

[Purveyor]

By Christopher Johnson and Peg Mackey

LONDON | Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:23am EDT

(Reuters) - Iran is concealing the destination of its oil sales by disabling tracking systems aboard its tanker fleet, making it difficult to assess how much crude Tehran is exporting as it seeks to counter Western sanctions aimed at cutting its oil revenues.

Most of Iran's 39-strong fleet of tankers is now "off-radar" after Tehran ordered captains in the National Iranian Tanker Co (NITC) to switch off the black box transponders that are used in the shipping industry to monitor vessel movements, oil industry, trading and shipping sources said.

"Iran, helped by its customers, is trying to obfuscate as much as possible," said a senior executive at a national oil company that has done business with Iran.

And Iran may have countered a reported reduction in its oil sales in March by offering big discounts in the form of free freight, finance and insurance and generous credit terms, the sources said.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/13/us-iran-oil-tracking-idUSBRE83C0TS20120413

[dballance]

1. Given How our AIPAC-driven government is acting do you blame them?

The way we keep posturing and bloviating along with Israel it's no wonder Iran is hiding stuff.

Some one needs to tell Lieberman to knock it off.