For the first time in seven and a half years, most Iranian-flagged tankers began transmitting properly over AIS (Automatic Identification System) without spoofing early on October 14th, 2025. The change was confirmed by two separate AIS data providers, according to a report from TankerTrackers. The reasons behind this sudden shift in transmission behavior remain unknown at this time. This development marks a significant departure from a long-standing practice of spoofing AIS signals by Iranian vessels. The Automatic Identification System is a tracking system that uses transponders on ships to broadcast their identity, position, and other navigational information. The ability to track these vessels openly provides greater transparency in maritime traffic. This period covers activity from 12:06 AM to 3:06 AM UTC on October 14th, 2025.
