Iran disguised jet fuel shipments to Myanmar using fake documents, despite U.S. sanctions, revealing a complex network of maritime trade.
According to a report published by Reuters on October 26, 2026, Iran used fake commercial documents to conceal the true origin and nature of jet fuel shipments to Myanmar.
In December 2025, the REEF tanker, which was under U.S. sanctions, reached Myanmar's waters carrying approximately 113,000 barrels of fuel. While the documents related to the shipment indicated that the cargo was diesel originating from South Africa, records and satellite images reviewed by Reuters revealed that the fuel was sent from Iran.
In a $15.8 million contract arranged between Myanmar-based energy company Dynamic Wave and Thailand-based Tawan-Oil Trading, the cargo was also described as diesel sourced from South Africa.
However, according to records from the United Nations and maritime data company Vortexa, there was no fuel trade between South Africa and Myanmar in 2025.
Tankers' routes determined by satellite images
Satellite image analyses conducted by maritime intelligence company SynMax Intelligence showed that the REEF tanker departed from Iran's Bandar Abbas Port and reached Southeast Asia.
Another tanker mentioned in Reuters' investigation, NOBLE, transported approximately 200,000 barrels of jet fuel to Myanmar's Yangon Port in June 2025.
During the voyage of the NOBLE tanker, despite the actual destination being Myanmar, it was reported that position information was published indicating it was heading to Bangladesh's Chittagong Port via the Automatic Identification System (AIS).
SynMax's satellite analyses revealed that the fuel carried by this tanker was also loaded at Iran's Bandar Abbas Port.
Myanmar government aware of shipments
According to an official correspondence dated November 30, 2025, obtained by Reuters, Myanmar's foreign exchange regulatory authority approved the classification of imported jet fuel as diesel in the documents.
This document also allowed the Myanmar-based Dynamic Wave to make payments to its client, National Energy Prime Aviation Services Company, through the Thai Tawan-Oil Trading company.
It was noted that companies linked to Myanmar's military administration were involved in the shipments, while no responses were received from the relevant companies and the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Reuters' inquiries.
$26 million second contract
The investigation also revealed that a $26 million contract for another fuel shipment of 202,000 barrels was signed between Dynamic Wave and Tawan-Oil Trading in May 2025.
It was determined that the physical characteristics of the fuel, which was listed as South African diesel in the contract, were compatible with jet fuel. Additionally, it was noted that the invoice price was more than 50% above the international diesel reference price.
The NOBLE tanker associated with this shipment reached Yangon Port on June 17, 2025.
Shipments continued despite U.S. sanctions
The U.S. administration began imposing sanctions on Myanmar's jet fuel sector in 2023, citing airstrikes by the Myanmar military against civilians.
According to Reuters' investigation, Iran became the primary supplier of jet fuel to the Myanmar military between October 2024 and December 2025.
It was noted that the REEF tanker, which was used for the shipments, later took on the name MARIS, and satellite images and ship movements indicated that jet fuel transportation between Iran and Myanmar continued in 2026.
Reuters reported that this trade provided foreign exchange income to Iran and supplied fuel that could be used for air operations to the Myanmar military.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
