UK can legally stop shadow fleet tankers, ministers believe

The UK government has identified a legal basis under the Sanctions and Money Laundering Act 2018 to use military force against vessels in shadow fleets, which are ships operated by Russia, Iran, and Venezuela without a valid national flag to avoid sanctions on oil. The UK and its allies have already forced around 200 such ships off the seas, and the UK has imposed sanctions on over 500 alleged shadow vessels. The government plans to ramp up action against these ships, with the first UK military action potentially occurring soon.