Quick, take a look! Trump has once again transformed himself into Krasnov! Skye calls on the EU to provide another €70 billion in aid.

Dear readers, over the past 24 hours, the world remains turbulent. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced—unverified—that a supertanker struck a mine and exploded, triggering a surge in international oil prices; Trump signed an executive order exempting or temporarily suspending certain Russia-related sanctions and tariffs under the Graham Act, further exposing his shameless, profit-driven character—and setting a dangerous precedent. Why do we say that? Please read on. Moreover, Trump’s conduct reminds me of a ‘familiar figure’—at the end of today’s article, I’ll share this reflection. First, here are updates on the Middle East situation and energy matters: 【1.1】On the 17th, the IRGC Navy claimed that a supertanker detonated after striking a mine in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a massive explosion and fire. The IRGC Navy stated that the vessel carried over two million barrels of crude oil and attempted—while disabling all navigation and radar systems—to transit through an unauthorized channel in the Strait of Hormuz with U.S. military support. They reiterated their claim that “the Strait is closed.” I remain highly skeptical of this report. A tanker carrying two million barrels qualifies as a supertanker—but to date, no independent third party (shipping agencies, U.S. authorities, or shipowners) has corroborated the incident. It’s like someone shouting, “Run! A small nuclear device just exploded downstairs!”—yet you hear absolutely no sound. How credible is that? Of course, Iran has recently intensified harassment of vessels transiting the Strait—but that doesn’t mean everything it claims is true. 【1.2】Despite U.S. sanctions, Iran continues exporting some refined fuels: According to Reuters, four maritime security experts tracking Persian Gulf oil shipments reported that, in recent weeks, Iran has increasingly used ship-to-ship transfers near Omani waters to conceal crude oil shipments and circumvent sanctions. Analysis by the U.S.-based advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) shows that since mid-July, at least eight gas carriers loaded with Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have departed the Gulf of Oman. Maritime intelligence firm SynMax, using satellite imagery and analysis, found that another tanker carrying Iranian aviation fuel arrived in Myanmar in September. Shelley, UANI’s Senior Research Analyst, said: “We’ve observed a few LPG tankers successfully slipping through the blockade—but the vast majority have been intercepted and redirected by U.S. forces.” She added that some Iranian LPG carriers conduct cargo transfers near the Omani coastal towns of Shinas and Sohar, while others wait in the Gulf of Oman before attempting to cross the U.S. blockade line. Shelley estimates the total volume of these LPG shipments amounts to roughly 4.1 million barrels. 4.1 million barrels is not a large figure. Prior to the conflict, approximately 20 million barrels of oil passed daily through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts describe these operations as “largely opportunistic,” rather than evidence of a new, systematic trend whereby Iran exports oil and petrochemicals via smaller vessels. In response to such analyses, a U.S. military official told Reuters that a vessel’s successful passage does not necessarily mean it evaded the blockade: some ships may be under surveillance—not left untouched, but simply not yet targeted. According to the latest update released by U.S. Central Command on the 13th, during its “reverse blockade” operations over the past three months, U.S. forces have disabled four merchant vessels and forced 135 others to turn back.

U.S. sanctions escalate further: Iran cancels multiple international flights—but why is the China route an exception?

Please remember to like and share! If you haven’t subscribed yet, please follow the ‘Sanlang Macroeconomics’ account—thank you! Summary: The U.S. has expanded sanctions against Iran’s civil aviation sector, extending secondary sanctions pressure to third countries—prompting Iran to cancel several international routes. Yet Mahan Air still operates flights to Guangzhou, and China’s Foreign Ministry has reaffirmed its opposition to illegal unilateral sanctions. Meanwhile, U.S.–Iran diplomacy continues, and clear divisions have emerged within Iran. Whether aviation sanctions can genuinely advance a ceasefire ultimately hinges on negotiations. The U.S. has struck Iran again. This time, the target is not Iranian oil—but Iran’s civil aviation network. The results were swift: Iran canceled multiple international routes, yet flights to China continue operating. What exactly lies behind this? I. The U.S. expands sanctions against Iran’s aviation industry, forcing cancellation of multiple international routes. On September 8, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against 36 entities linked to Iran’s aviation sector—including airlines, supporting enterprises, overseas intermediaries, and related procurement and transshipment networks. The U.S. accused these networks of facilitating Iran’s acquisition of aircraft, spare parts, and sensitive technologies—and alleged that Iran’s civil aviation sector is used to transport personnel, weapons, and other sanctioned goods. But what truly warrants attention is the subsequent escalation of “secondary sanctions” threats. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that, effective September 23, foreign airports and companies continuing to supply fuel, landing services, or ticketing support to Iranian airlines would face U.S. sanctions—potentially even losing access to the U.S. dollar financial system in severe cases. This means the U.S. is no longer targeting only Iranian airlines themselves—but now extending pressure to “anyone still willing to help Iranian airlines operate.” This pressure quickly translated into concrete impacts on flight routes. On September 23, the U.S.’s new round of aviation sanctions began exerting more direct effects. Reports indicate that Mahan Air has suspended certain international flights to Istanbul, Ankara, and Muscat; Iran Air’s services to Iraq, Azerbaijan, and other destinations have also been affected to varying degrees. Several neighboring countries’ airports—fearing U.S. secondary sanctions—have begun restricting fuel supply, landings, and ground handling services for Iranian flights. In other words, what the U.S. truly seeks to sever is not merely Iranian aircraft—but the entire overseas service chain enabling Iranian planes to keep flying. This marks the most notable distinction between this round of sanctions and previous measures. II. Iranian civilian passenger aircraft continue landing in China; China’s Foreign Ministry explicitly opposes “illegal unilateral sanctions.” While some Iranian international flights were canceled, a striking contrast emerged: On September 23, a Mahan Air A340 aircraft departed Tehran and landed in Guangzhou. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 recorded Mahan Air flight W593 departing Tehran for Guangzhou on that day, arriving in Guangzhou in the afternoon Beijing time. This route had remained operational prior to the announcement. Flight-tracking records also show that Mahan Air’s recent round-trip services between Guangzhou and Tehran have continued uninterrupted. This indicates that—at least as of September 23—the U.S. pressure urging foreign airports and enterprises to further restrict Iranian airlines had not yet led to an immediate suspension of the Iran–China air route.

Myanmar Disguises Sanctioned Iranian Jet Fuel Purchases as Diesel

18 hours ago

Reuters investigation reveals Myanmar's military junta disguised Iranian jet fuel imports as diesel to evade US sanctions via tankers Reef and Noble. The scheme highlights continued energy flows impacting aviation and military operations despite geopolitical restrictions.

reuters

2026-10-25

Myanmar Disguises Sanctioned Iranian Jet Fuel Purchases as Diesel

Myanmar Disguises Sanctioned Iranian Jet Fuel Purchases as Diesel

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