Iran Shipping Update – July 21, 2026

The United States reinstated its naval blockade of Iranian ports on July 14, marking a likely end to the brief détente established under the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed June 17. The move follows Iran's attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz starting July 7, which reignited tensions across the Persian Gulf, ultimately collapsing the agreement's key confidence-building measures. The United States has since conducted a series of strikes against Iranian military and IRGC maritime assets.

To read UANI's June 2026 Tanker Tracker, click here.

U.S. Blockade 

On July 13, President Trump declared that the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports has been reinstated. Starting on July 14 at 4 p.m. ET, U.S. forces will impose the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas while supporting compliant traffic in regional waters. The measure follows the initial blockade from April 13 to June 18, which redirected more than 140 compliant vessels, disabled nine non-compliant ships, and allowed over 50 humanitarian-support vessels to pass.

In addition to enforcing the blockade on Iranian ports, all Iranian vessels and vessels suspected of carrying contraband, are subject to belligerent right to visit and search. These vessels, regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search, and seizure. Contraband items are subject to capture at any place beyond neutral territory, if their destination is the territory belonging to, or occupied by, Iran. Contraband is defined as goods that are destined for an enemy and that may be susceptible to use in armed conflict.

As of July 20, U.S. forces have redirected 7 commercial vessels and disabled 1 non-compliant unladen tanker to prevent the ships from leaving or entering Iranian ports.

Houthi Blockade

On July 20, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabian ports. Today, two laden tankers XIN LONG YANG (IMO 9761463) and RODOS (IMO 1024948) diverted in the Red Sea, potentially indicating that the Houthi blockade is already beginning to alter tanker trade flows, with vessels carrying Saudi cargoes, particularly crude, increasingly avoiding the Bab el Mandeb Strait.

Tankers diverting in the Red Sea on July 21 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

Since the start of the Iran War, the International Maritime organization (IMO) has reported 61 maritime incidents involving commercial vessels have been reported across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.

Prior to the outbreak of the Iran War, about 138 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz daily. Throughout the conflict, marine traffic data showed large clusters of loitering vessels on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, with many ships refraining from transiting due to safety concerns. Since the signing of the MoU, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) has reported an increase in open transits through the Strait of Hormuz. On June 24, JMIC recorded 54 transits, the highest daily total since the outbreak of the conflict. As of July 20, JMIC has reported a total of 697 vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the date of the signing of the MoU.  

Vessel transits of the Strait of Hormuz (Data Credit: JMIC)

Separately, JMIC reported 599 “U.S. facilitated” transits have been conducted since June 20. This data represents vessels that coordinated with the U.S. Naval Control and Guidance of Shipping (NCAGS) detachment at U.S. Fifth Fleet for their transit via the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz. Many of these transits have been observed on AIS, but some may have also been conducted “dark” with no AIS transmissions.

“US facilitated” transits of Strait of Hormuz (Data Credit: JMIC)

Open transits of commercial vessels through the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz declined following the IRGC strikes on commercial shipping starting July 7 but have not ceased entirely. Since the strikes, the traffic has been dominated by Iranian- and Chinese-linked vessels transiting via the northern corridor. 

Strait of Hormuz transits on July 21 at 12:00 UTC (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers Departing the Gulf of Oman

Since the announcement of the MoU on June 14, UANI has tracked 66 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 80 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $6 billion for the IRGC, which continues to fund Iran’s missile and drone programs. These figures are estimates. The pricing and volumes associated with Chinese purchases of Iranian crude are not publicly disclosed, though such cargoes are widely assessed to be sold at a discount of around 10 to 12 dollars per barrel.

On July 21, two tankers were moored at Chinese ports near Shanghai, one of which was observed in satellite imagery. PETREL (IMO 9278624) loaded 300,000 barrels of Iranian naphtha while GAFUS (IMO 9208239) loaded 500,000 barrels of Iranian LPG and then both departed the Gulf of Oman while the U.S. blockade was lifted. Meanwhile, five Iran-flagged cargo ships were also in the vicinity of Shanghai. 

Tankers laden with Iranian cargoes near Shanghai, China on July 21 (Credit: ESA Copernicus & Marine Traffic)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers

UANI has identified at least 39 tankers laden with Iranian oil — primarily crude, but also other petroleum products and LPG — currently operating along the Iranian coastline.   

Positions of tankers laden with Iranian oil on July 21 (Credit: UANI)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the signing of the U.S.-Iran MoU on June 17, UANI has tracked at least 29 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, 12 of which originated from Kharg Island, Iran. 

Iran-flagged Tankers Globally

UANI has also monitored Iran-flagged tankers operating beyond the Persian Gulf. Since the signing of the MoU, 19 Iran-flagged tankers have reached the Singapore Strait bound for the EOPL anchorage off Johor, Malaysia. 

There are 13 Iran-flagged tankers currently in the EOPL: HALTI (IMO 9212890), HAPPINESS I (IMO 9212905), STREAM (IMO 9569633), HERBY (IMO 9362059), DIAMOND II (IMO 9218478), DINO 1 (IMO 9569671), HEDY (IMO 9212888), DORE (IMO 9357717), SILVIA I (IMO 9172052), DORENA (IMO 9569669), SNOW (IMO 9569619) HERO II (IMO 9362073) and SONIA I (IMO 9357365), which have all previously passed the Singapore Strait and have since stopped broadcasting their location on AIS. Seven of these tankers have since been spotted in satellite imagery, confirming their location. All these Iranian tankers are expected to conduct STS transfers in the EOPL, with four already observed in satellite imagery. 

Meanwhile, SEVIN (IMO 9357353), FELICITY (IMO 9183934), HENNA (IMO 9212929), AMBER (IMO 9357406), STARLA (IMO 9569621) and DIONA (IMO 9569695) have departed the EOPL, reporting ballast condition on AIS after completing STS transfers in the anchorage, and are now most likely returning to Iran. They are the first six Iran-flagged tankers that have departed the EOPL reporting empty since the signing of the MoU, which has since collapsed.

On July 21, at least 50 tankers listed on UANI's Ghost Armada were anchored or loitering near the EOPL area with their AIS signals active, demonstrating that ghost fleet tankers continue to operate with impunity across Southeast Asia's sea lanes. 

Iran-Flagged Cargo Ships Globally

Despite ongoing pressure of U.S. OFAC sanctions, approximately 50 Iranian flagged cargo ships continue to operate openly across sea lanes, ports, and anchorages throughout the Indo-Pacific region, the Red Sea, the eastern Mediterranean and the North Sea.

Iran-flagged cargo vessels across the Indo-Pacific on July 21 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

No Iranian-flagged cargo ships have openly crossed the U.S. blockade line since it was formally declared on June 14. The last cargo ship to openly cross inbound was GOLBON (IMO 9283033) which arrived in Bandar Abbas from Kandla, India. The last cargo ship to openly exit was ARTMAN (IMO 9405930) which is currently in port at Kandla, India. 

The container ship VELON 1 (IMO 9122473) continued to sail north from Mumbai into the Gulf of Oman and is reporting Bandar Abbas, Iran, as its destination. Although registered as an Iranian-flagged vessel, VELON 1 is broadcasting an Aruba MMSI number on AIS, which could set it up for interdiction by U.S. naval forces if it attempts to breach the blockade to sail to Bandar Abbas.

The container ship ENZO 2 (IMO 9236652) has stopped in the anchorage area off Karachi, Pakistan. This is the same area where many Iranian ships loitered during the previous period of blockade. ENZO 2 previously departed Port Klang, Malaysia and is a possible candidate for interdiction by U.S. naval forces if it attempts to breach the blockade. ENZO follows a similar pattern to the container ship TOUSKA (IMO 9328900) which was disabled and interdicted during the first U.S. blockade.  Additionally, ENZO 2 had also visited Misrata, Libya and Branka, Russia, near St. Petersburg in the Baltic Sea, which enhances the chances that it might be carrying contraband material

Meanwhile, the container ship FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322), which departed Novorossiysk, Russia, and later visited Misrata, Libya, is sailing from Mumbai to Kandla, India. ARTMAN (IMO 9405930) continued to sit in port at Kandla, India, while ARTAM (IMO 9284154) is still anchored outside the Gulf of Kutch.

Four container ships are anchored at Port Klang, Malaysia: DAISY (IMO 9270684), SHIBA (IMO 9270646), ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007) and ZYRA (IMO 9237084). The container ship VIRA 1 (IMO 9088524), which is currently in the Red Sea, is enroute to Port Klang, from its previous port call in the Russian Baltic.

Iran-flagged cargo vessels at Port Klang on July 21 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

Meanwhile, the container ship SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) remained anchored about 60km offshore of Penang, in international waters in the Malacca Strait. 

The container ships BASHT (IMO 9346536) and PARNIA (IMO 9167265) remain anchored in the Malaysian EOPL anchorage area.

The bulk carrier BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978) departed Songkhla and is now sailing north in the Gulf of Thailand to Laem Chabang. Meanwhile, the general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) is sailing via the Java Sea to Surabaya, Indonesia. However, once again, AREZOO has not broadcast on AIS for more 24 hours when nearing Indonesian waters.

The laden bulk carrier PARSHAD (IMO 9387786), which was sailing north in the South China Sea to an unspecified port in China, continued to drift in the sea lane, in the sea lane, reporting “Not Under Command” on AIS.

The container ship ABYAN (IMO 9349667) remained anchored outside Zhuhai Port, China. HAMOUNA (IMO 9820271) is enroute to Zhuhai via the Taiwan Strait. KASHAN (9270696) and RADIN (9820257) are also both enroute to Zhuhai from the South China Sea, while ARTENOS (IMO 9283021) is en route from the Bay of Bengal.

The Iran-flagged bulk cargo ship ANDIA (IMO 9193197) which is headed to Zhoushan Port, near Ningbo China, is now sailing along the western coast of Taiwan toward the Yonaguni Channel. ANDIA is reporting that it has “Restricted Maneuverability.”  It is likely that the ANDIA is being towed by the Chinese-flagged ocean-going tug JIN CHEN (9795256).

Two container ships are currently anchored at CJK anchorage off Shanghai, China: BARZIN (IMO 9820269) and RAYEN (IMO 9820245), while ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) and RAMA 3 (IMO 9303754) are in port Shanghai Port for cargo operations. ARZIN (IMO 9284142) and FLORA (IMO 9349576) are en route to CJK. 

Three bulk cargo ships are currently at Dafeng, China on the Yellow Sea and one bulk cargo ship is anchored at Luhuashan, which is near Ningbo and Zhoushan ports.

The general cargo ships NESHAT (IMO 9167277) and GOLSAN (IMO 9165815) both arrived in the vicinity of Mombasa, Kenya, and are now loitering offshore.

In the Mediterranean Sea, the Iran-flagged general cargo ship ALVAN (IMO 9165798) is approaching the port of Benghazi, Libya.  The Iran-flagged AYSAN (IMO 9165803) remains anchored off Misrata. Libya is under certain UN sanctions, and an arms embargo, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2819 (2026).

Two Iranian-flagged container ships are sailing in the Red Sea, within the area subject to recently announced Houthi blockade of Saudi Arabia.  The VIRA 1 (IMO 9088524) is sailing south, from the Russian Baltic to its destination in Port Klang, Malaysia.  The SHABDIS (IMO 9349588) is sailing north in the Red Sea, after passing the Bab el-Manda strait.   Its destination after the Suez Canal is not known.       

The container ship NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) is in the Black Sea after passing the Bosphorus in Türkiye and is now reporting its destination as Istanbul. The vessel has since gone dark on AIS but will likely then sail to a Russian port in the Black Sea.

The container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590) continued to transit via EU waters to the Russian Baltic port of Bronka, with an estimated arrival of July 24 according to AIS. However, it is likely to go dark once it reaches the Baltic. EU Directive 2025/811 required Mandatory Ship Reporting of key safety information, including insurance certificates due to substandard ships that pose substantial risks to maritime safety and marine ecosystems.

Iran-flagged vessel in the Dover Strait on July 21 (Credit: Marine Traffic)