Iran Shipping Update – June 29, 2026

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued a broad 60-day authorization, General License X, for Iranian oil exports. This follows a U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran signed by President Trump on June 17, lifting a two month-long maritime blockade on Iranian ports and leading to a resumption of Iranian oil exports. To read UANI’s Statement on the MoU, click here.

General License X

General License X authorizes the production, delivery and sale of crude oil, petrochemical products, and petroleum products of Iranian origin through August 21, 2026. It also permits transactions to be conducted in U.S. dollars for the first time in decades. While Washington has issued limited waivers and technical licenses over the years, including this year with General License U, this is the first broad authorization for the production, sale, transport, financing, and import of Iranian oil since the reimposition of sweeping U.S. oil sanctions in 2019.

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

Since the start of the Iran War, 52 confirmed maritime incidents involving commercial vessels and offshore infrastructure have been reported across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.

Following U.S. strikes in response to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attack on Singapore-flagged containership EVER LOVELY (IMO 9629110) on June 25, Iran was given an opportunity to adhere to the ceasefire agreement but did not do so. On June 27, Iranian forces launched a one-way attack drone that struck KIKU (IMO 9329796), a Panama-flagged tanker transiting near the Strait of Hormuz carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil.

In response to continued attacks on commercial shipping, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted 10 strikes targeting Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communications systems, air defense assets, drone storage facilities, and minelaying capabilities. The U.S. and Iran have since agreed to halt the recent exchange of strikes in and around the Strait of Hormuz and to resume negotiations.

U.S. CENTCOM strikes on Iran on June 28 (U.S. CENTCOM/X)

In response to the initial IRGC attack, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) temporarily paused its evacuation plan following the attack on a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after passing through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the IMO Secretary-General, the decision was taken to reassess safety conditions and ensure that adequate guarantees remain in place for vessels operating in the region. 

Prior to the outbreak of the Iran War, about 138 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz daily. Throughout the conflict, marine traffic data showed growing clusters of loitering vessels on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, with many 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. 

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

Initially, post-MoU transits were dominated by Chinese- and Iran-linked traffic using the northern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz. However, there has since been an increase in transits, including Western-linked vessels, through the southern corridor, likely reflecting its gradual widening due to demining operations, as well as a broader increase in commercial willingness to transit the Strait. Open transits of commercial vessels through the southern corridor have declined since the most recent maritime strikes.

Strait of Hormuz transits on June 29 at 16:50 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 35 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 44 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $3.5 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. Over the weekend, two tankers departed the Gulf of Oman: KALI (IMO 9162502) carrying 300 thousand barrels of Iranian methanol and VICTORY ARI (IMO 9290919) carrying 300 thousand barrels of Iranian crude.

Tankers laden with Iranian hydrocarbons departing the Gulf of Oman (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers

UANI has identified at least 48 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 June 29 (Credit: UANI)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the signing of the U.S.-Iran MoU on June 17, UANI has tracked at least 10 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, three 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 conflict began, at least 34 Iran-flagged tankers have reached Southeast Asian waters bound for the Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage off Johor, Malaysia. On June 29, HERO II (IMO 9362073) transited the Malacca Strait toward the EOPL, both laden with Iranian crude. These Iran-flagged tankers are the third and second Iran-flagged tankers to reach Southeast Asian sea lanes since the lifting of the U.S. blockade, after DIONA (IMO 9569695) who stopped broadcasting her location on June 28, before reaching the EOPL. DIONA may be en route to conduct an STS transfer in the EOPL, proceed to an anchorage south of Hong Kong, or sail directly to China, depending on evolving patterns in Iran’s oil trade and dark fleet operations since the signing of the MoU. 

Iran-flagged tanker transiting the Singapore Strait on June 29 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iran-flagged tanker transiting the Singapore Strait on June 28 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

Meanwhile, at least 42 Iran-flagged tankers, reporting empty, have begun attempts to return to Iran and from the Malaysian EOPL anchorage and Southeast Asian sea lanes, since the start of the conflict. 

Iran-Oil Laden Tankers off the Malaysian Coast

On June 29, 42 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 80 Iranian flagged vessels continue to operate openly across sea lanes, ports, and anchorages throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Since the announcement of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the lifting of the blockade, nearly all the Iranian ships outside of the Persian Gulf have begun sailing back to Iran. Meanwhile, more than a dozen cargo vessels have departed Iranian ports for Asia.

Iran-flagged vessels across the Indo-Pacific on June 29 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Twelve Iranian-flagged cargo ships are heading back from Asian waters to Iranian ports including, Chabahar, Bandar Abbas and Bandar-e Imam Khomeini (BIK).

Meanwhile, at least 30 Iranian-flagged cargo ships have departed Iranian waters. Twenty-six are sailing to Asian ports: five to India; three to Sri Lanka; thirteen to China; four to Malaysia. Plus, two vessels to the Suez Canal; one to Kenya; and one to Tanzania. 

The Iranian-flagged general cargo ship AYSAN (IMO 9165803) is entering the Red Sea via the Bab El-Mandeb Strait today, on its way to the Suez Canel. While VICTORIA 1 (IMO 9109550) is sailing southward, about 150 km off the Somali coast, toward its destination, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 

Three Iranian cargo ships are in Indian ports today. The container ship HAMGAN (IMO 9226956) is moored at Kandla Port for cargo operations, while ALOR 2 (IMO 9228538) is anchored in the Gulf of Kutch, near Kandla. NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) is anchored off Mumbai, after departing Kandla on June 27. All of these vessels are designated by OFAC and are not covered by the recent OFAC General License X authorizing shipments of Iranian petroleum products.

Three cargo ships have stopped near Sri Lankan ports. The bulk carrier AMINA (IMO 9305192) is anchored outside of Colombo port. The container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590) departed the at Trincomalee port anchorage today enroute to the Suez Canal, while the container ship SHABGOUN (IMO 9346524) arrived at the anchorage from Zhuhai. All three ships are OFAC sanctioned and are not covered by the recent OFAC General License X authorizing shipments of Iranian petroleum products.

Multiple other Iranian flagged vessels, including tankers and cargo ships, continue to transit past Sri Lanka, occasionally stopping briefly offshore off Galle, for logistics support.

Thirteen other Iranian-flagged cargo ships have departed Iranian waters, entering the Indian Ocean toward the Malacca Strait and are reporting various destinations in China. 

On June 29, three Iranian cargo ships arrived at Port Klang, Malaysia. PARNIA (IMO 9167265), SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) and RAMA 3 (IMO 9303754) arrived at the anchorage.  PARNIA pulled into Westports Container Terminal, berth B09, for cargo operations, while SHAMIM and RAMA 3 remained in the anchorage. RAMA 3 previously departed a Russian Baltic port near St Petersburg on approximately May 26.  Meanwhile, SHIBA (IMO 9270646) is in the Bay of Bengal with an estimated arrival at Port Klang on July 2. All of these ships are OFAC sanctioned and are not covered by the recent OFAC General License X authorizing shipments of Iranian petroleum products.

Iran-flagged cargo ships at Port Klang, Malaysia, on June 29 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The container ship ABYAN (IMO 9349667) transited the Singapore Strait westbound today, heading towards Zhuhai, China, with an estimate arrival of July 3. The container ship passed the Malaysian EOPL without stopping. ABYAN is the second cargo ship to pass the Singapore Strait since the end of the U.S. blockade.

The bulk cargo ship ANDIA (IMO 9193197) remains anchored in the Malaysian EOPL,

Iran-flagged general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) conducted cargo operations in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on June 29 and then departed, with the vessel now sailing in the South China Sea to its next destination, Jakarta, Indonesia with an estimated arrival of July 2.

The Iran-flagged container ships AZARGOUN (IMO 9283019) and NORA (IMO 9259408) both departed Zhuhai Port, China, on June 27 and are sailing in the South China Sea toward the Singapore Strait.  

The container ship BASHT (IMO 9346536) is sailing the South China Sea northbound with its destination listed as the CJK anchorage near Shanghai. 

The container ship SHABDIS (IMO 9349588) remains at the CJK anchorage outside Shanghai.

The Iran-flagged bulk cargo ship BATIS (IMO 9465760) departed Tianjin Port, China, on June 27, and is currently sailing south in the Yellow Sea, returning to Bandar Abbas, Iran, in laden status.