US ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Untrackable China Ships Carrying Iran Oil: Officials

US ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Untrackable China Ships Carrying Iran Oil: Officials
A general view of Abadan oil refinery in southwest Iran, is pictured from Iraqi side of Shatt al-Arab in Al-Faw south of Basra, Iraq, on Sept. 21, 2019. Essam Al-Sudani/Reuters
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WASHINGTON—The White House is warning Chinese shipping companies against turning off their ships’ transponders to hide Iranian oil shipments in violation of U.S. sanctions, two senior administration officials said.

“We’ve been messaging very heavily to the shipping companies, you don’t want to do this, it’s not worth it,” said one official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. “It’s incredibly dangerous and irresponsible behavior.”