A US-based pressure group tracking Iranian oil cargoes has called for a European port ban on Panamanian-flagged tankers in an ongoing row over sanctions enforcement.

United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) said that Panama’s maritime authority (AMP) had been “inaccurate and deceptive” in response to its criticisms of the flag state’s record in tackling sanctions breaches.

The group claimed that the authority had failed to act despite being supplied with bills of lading, satellite images and other data that indicated Panamanian-flagged vessels were hauling Iranian crude in contravention of US sanctions.