US stations B-52 bombers near Iran – Newsweek

The organization United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) said 17% of a fleet of vessels it suspects of smuggling sanctioned Iranian oil are currently flying the Panamanian flag.

In a statement, UANI described Panama’s maritime registry as the “most commonly used national registry among this shadow fleet,” citing tactics such as flag-hopping, fake ownership records, and manipulation of automatic identification systems (AIS).

“Panama has long been the flag of choice for sanctions violators and oil smugglers,” said UANI CEO Mark D. Wallace. “We’ve repeatedly provided the AMP [Panama Maritime Authority] with names, evidence, and warnings. Their lack of consistent, proactive enforcement continues to undermine global sanctions compliance.”

UANI’s tanker tracker lists 542 foreign-flagged vessels suspected of involvement in sanctioned oil shipments from Iran.

Following mounting pressure, Panama in March deregistered 107 vessels and is currently reviewing 18 more, acting under Executive Decree No. 512, which allows authorities to remove ships owned by sanctioned entities from its registry.

The allegations come as Iranian officials publicly celebrate rising energy production and oil exports.

Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, speaking during the inauguration of Iran’s 29th Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemical Exhibition in Tehran, said the country has boosted oil output by 150,000 barrels per day under the current administration, with daily gas production up 30 million cubic meters and petroleum refining capacity growing by 180,000 barrels per day.

Paknejad added that gasoline and diesel output has increased by 7 million and 8 million liters per day, respectively, despite what he called intensifying sanctions. “Oil exports are continuing at the highest possible level,” he said.

He added that Iran plans to complete over 30 major oil and gas projects by March 2026, representing $10 billion in investment, which he said will further raise daily oil production by 250,000 barrels and gas by 30 million cubic meters.

He also said Iran needs over $20 billion in annual funding to maintain and expand production, adding that the ministry is pursuing innovative financing tools and encouraging greater private sector participation to meet these goals.

While Iran has not publicly addressed the UANI report, it has consistently rejected the legality of unilateral US sanctions and insists that its energy exports comply with international law.

The Panama Maritime Authority has not yet responded to the latest allegations. However, officials have previously defended their compliance with international norms, citing recent regulatory changes intended to strengthen enforcement.

In spite of sanctions, Iran's oil sales have continued to grow in recent years.

In October, the Energy Information Agency (EIA) in the US reported that Iran's oil sales reached $144 billion in the first three years of the Biden administration, $100 billion more than what Tehran exported in the last two years of the Trump administration when the oil sanctions were in effect.

In March, the US seized multiple Iranian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf which were using forged Iraqi documents.

Speaking on state television, Iraq's Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani said: "We received some verbal inquiries about oil tankers being detained in the Persian Gulf by US naval forces carrying Iraqi shipping manifests.

"It turned out that these tankers were Iranian ... and were using forged Iraqi documents. We explained this to the relevant authorities with complete transparency and they also confirmed this."

The image, captured by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellite on May 7, was first identified by open-source analyst MT Anderson and shows aircraft matching the dimensions of B-52 bombers parked at the US Naval Support Facility.

The B-52s join a buildup of US assets at the base, including previously deployed B-2 stealth bombers, C-17 cargo planes, and aerial refueling tankers, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine and The War Zone.

The enhanced deployment follows months of rising tensions between Washington and Tehran. While US President Donald Trump has said he prefers a peaceful resolution to the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program, he has also warned of military action if no agreement is reached.

Tehran has rejected talks outside the framework of the 2015 nuclear deal.

In March, a senior Iranian military official warned that Iran would target the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia if it is used to launch attacks. “There will be no distinction in targeting British or American forces if Iran is attacked from any base in the region or within range of Iranian missiles,” the official told The Telegraph.

However, the remote Indian Ocean base is located some 3,800 kilometers from Iran—beyond the estimated 2,000-kilometer range of Iranian ballistic missiles.

A UK government spokesman condemned the threats at the time, calling the base “vital to UK and US security” and underscoring London’s efforts to promote de-escalation in the region.

Diego Garcia has previously been used to launch US strikes in Iraq and Afghanistan. The latest deployments suggest the US is positioning for potential large-scale operations, even as diplomatic efforts with Tehran remain uncertain.

Iran’s new defense gear suits the demands of current and future warfare, said the country’s top military commander.

“The armed forces will hold the advantage in future conflicts,” said Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri.

“Defense products manufactured by the Ministry of Defense are highly mobile and agile, designed to be network-based and smart, and have proven their effectiveness on the battlefield.”

His remarks come as regional tensions rise and Israel threatens a direct response to attacks by Tehran-backed Houthis.

Negotiations remain reasonable only under equal conditions without coercion, said Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Thursday.

“As negotiations under coercion and unreasonable threats are neither rational nor honorable, talks conducted under equal conditions and without pressure will be rational and honorable.”

“What has changed in the talks is the situation, not the Islamic Republic’s positions,” he said.

Ahmadian added that Iran’s red lines in the negotiations were completely clear.

Iran’s hardline daily Kayhan issued a response to reports that US President Donald Trump may rename the Persian Gulf the “Arabian Gulf” during his upcoming Middle East visit.

In an editorial, the paper said Trump “laughs from the grave of his father, who ran a brothel,” for daring to propose such a change. The editorial called for renaming the United States “Redland,” invoking Native American history and accusing the country of being founded through “piracy and genocide.”

The Associated Press reported Trump is expected to address the naming dispute during visits to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the move as “politically motivated and historically inaccurate.”

Kayhan mocked the decision as a new low for Washington. “Are there no sane people in the West to restrain this madman?” the editorial asked.