October 21, 2025

Why have most Iranian oil vessels turned their AIS signal back on?

In a significant break from years of cloaked operations, Iranian crude tankers - including non-Iranian-flagged ships - are now transmitting AIS signals with rare consistency. Kpler’s latest tracking shows that only 14 out of 89 vessels carrying Iranian oil remained dark over the past 48 hours, reversing a longstanding evasion pattern.

Cargo ship docked at industrial port with red-covered containers and red ore piles, city skyline in the background.

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Why have most Iranian oil vessels turned their AIS signal back on?Cargo ship docked at industrial port with red-covered containers and red ore piles, city skyline in the background.

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