Iran Supplies Weapons to the rf Under the Guise of Legal Trade in European Ports

Iranian cargo container ships are conducting espionage activities in favor of the Yemeni Houthis and are also involved in the transportation of weapons and their components to Syria and russia.

To cover up their illegal activities, Iranian vessels use the commercial route through the port of Antwerp (Belgium). An analysis of shipping data shows that between June 2022 and October 2024, six Iranian cargo ships (Artam, Artenos, Azargoun, Daisy, Kashan and Shiba) called at least 27 times at the port of Latakia (Syria) while passing between Iran and Antwerp. The vessels were delivering weapons under the guise of legal commercial cargo deliveries to European ports.

Currently, these six Iranian vessels cannot moor in Antwerp anymore due to sanctions. However, other Iranian vessels are still allowed to call at Belgian ports.

These vessels mostly used the same route: Bandar Abbas (Iran's largest port) – Suez Canal – Latakia (Syria, mooring for one to three days) – Constanta (Romania) – Ravenna (Italy) – Valencia, Bilbao (Spain) – Antwerp (Belgium). Typical declared imports from Iran to Antwerp include polyethylene, vegetable oil, ceramics, and food products. Exports (from Antwerp to Iran) include equipment used in the production of beverages, auto parts, textile processing equipment, and insulation materials.

The vessels are owned by the Iranian Hafez Darya Arya Shipping (HDS), a subsidiary of the Iranian state-owned shipping company Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL). IRISL has ties to Iranian military structures and is under US and EU sanctions. IRISL is also associated with the supply of weapons to russia for the war against Ukraine. In particular, the Azargoun and Artam vessels moored at the russian port of Novorossiysk in January and February 2023.

Besides, the Shiba vessel is allegedly involved in the transfer of coordinates of international ships to the Houthis. The Shiba left Iran on July 23, but stayed in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea from August 2 to 5, 2024. On August 3, the Yemeni Houthis fired a missile at the Greek container ship Groton, which was sailing through the Gulf of Aden. Similar situations occurred during the attack on the bulk carrier Gibraltar Eagle (USA) on January 15, 2024 and the Propel Fortune (Singapore) on March 8, 2024.