A tanker crew reportedly painted a Russian flag on an Iran-linked vessel—a stark maneuver to sidestep potential US asset seizure. This move highlights the ongoing cat-and-mouse game surrounding geopolitical tensions and sanctions enforcement. When flag changes become survival tactics for maritime assets, it signals how complex sanctions evasion strategies have become. For those tracking global compliance risks and how institutions navigate regulatory grey zones, this incident underscores why understanding sanctions networks matters. The broader question: as international financial systems tighten, what does this mean for cross-border transactions and asset safety protocols?