Iran Shipping Update – July 6, 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.  The general license will expire on August 21. To read UANI’s Statement on the MoU, click here.

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

Since the start of the Iran War, there have been 49 maritime incidents, confirmed by the International Maritime organization (IMO), involving commercial vessels have been reported across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.  The last confirmed attack was on June 27.

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. 

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

In the days following the 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 declined following the maritime strikes on June 25 and 27 but have since begun to increase again.

On July 6, JMIC issued an advisory to the shipping industry, reminding mariners, “that the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz has been expanded and remains available for all traffic.  Mariners are advised that they may transit the southern route day or night with their AIS on, radars radiating, running lights on, and normal use of VHF in accordance with best management practices for maritime security.”

Strait of Hormuz transits on July 6 at 14:00 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 43 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 55 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $4.5 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.

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers

UANI has identified at least 40 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 6 (Credit: UANI)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the signing of the U.S.-Iran MoU on June 17, UANI has tracked at least 16 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, eight 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 and the lifting of the U.S. blockade, 13 Iran-flagged tankers have reached the Singapore Strait bound for the Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage off Johor, Malaysia. From July 3 to July 6, six additional tankers transited the Singapore Strait and arrived at the EOPL: DINO 1 (IMO 9569671), HEDY (IMO 9212888), DORE (IMO 9357717), SEVIN (IMO 9357353), HENNA (IMO 9212929), and SILVIA I (IMO 9172052).  These tankers joined the seven already presumed to be in the EOPL: AMBER (IMO 9357406), DORENA (IMO 9569669), SNOW (IMO 9569619) and STARLA (IMO 9569621), DIONA (IMO 9569695), 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. Two more tankers are in the Malacca Strait, heading to the EOPL: DIAMOND II (IMO 9218478) and FELICITY (IMO 9183934).  All these Iranian tankers will most likely conduct STS transfers in the EOPL. Some may proceed to an anchorage area south of Hong Kong, where the Iranian flagged tanker HUGE (IMO 9357183) was observed in satellite imagery still loitering.  It is unlikely that any will proceed directly to Chinese ports, and that would mark a significant change in operational procedure. It remains to be seen how the evolving patterns of Iran’s oil trade and dark fleet operations will change following the signing of the MoU.

Iran flagged tankers transiting towards the Malaysian EOPL on July 3-6(Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)

Iran-Oil Laden Tankers off the Malaysian Coast

On July 6, 51 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 70 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 30 cargo vessels have departed Iranian ports for Asia.

Iran-flagged vessels across the Indo-Pacific on July 6 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

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

The container ship FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322) departed Novorossiysk on June 27, transited the Bosphorus, conducted cargo ops in Misrata, Libya on July 4, and departed. If it follows the previously observed pattern, it may subsequently sail to Port Klang, Malaysia.

Iran-flagged ship FLEXI 2 in the Bosphorus, 29 JUN 2026 (Credit: @YorukIsik / X)

Meanwhile, at least 35 Iranian-flagged cargo ships have departed Iranian waters since the MoU. Twenty-nine are currently sailing to Asian ports: Fifteen to China; two to Malaysia and one to Thailand. Also, three vessels are sailing to the Suez Canal; two to Kenya; 

The Iranian-flagged general cargo ship AYSAN (IMO 9165803) is waiting to enter the Suez Canal. The cargo ships BEHTA (IMO 9349590) and ALVAN (IMO 9165798) are sailing north in the Red Sea.  The container ship NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) is in the Gulf of Aden, approaching the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The container ships ZYRA (IMO 9237084) is sailing east in the Gulf of Aden, reporting its destination as Port Klang, with an estimated arrival of July 16. The bulk carrier VICTORIA 1 (IMO 9109550) arrived at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  General Cargo ships NESHAT (IMO 9167277) and GOLSAN (IMO 9165815) are both sailing to Mombasa, Kenya, and are currently in the Arabian Sea, off the Omani Coast.  

Two Iranian cargo ships are anchored in the Gulf of Kutch, today: the container ships ARTAM (IMO 9284154) and GOLBON (IMO 9283033). The container ship ALOR 2 (IMO 9228538) departed Kandla Port on July 3 and returned toward Iran.  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.

Multiple Iranian ships continued to transit south of Sri Lanka into the Bay of Bengal.  Two Iran-flagged ships were spotted in satellite imagery transiting near Sri Lanka on July 5.  The container ship DAISY (IMO 9270684) departed Colombo and is sailing to Port Klang, Malaysia.  The tanker HAPPINESS I (9212905) was also spotted, sailing toward the Malacca Strait.

Iran-flagged cargo ship and two tankers near Sri Lanka on July 2 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)
 

At Port Klang, Malaysia, two Iran-flagged container ships SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) and SHIBA (IMO 9270646) remained at the anchorage.  The ENZO 2 (IMO 9236652) arrived in port on July 5 after stopping in the Malaysian EOPL for one day for unknown operations.  ENZO 2 completed cargo ops late on July 6.  Two ships are enroute to Port Klang.  All of these ships are OFAC sanctioned and are not covered by the recent OFAC General License X authorizing shipments of Iranian petroleum products.

The bulk cargo ship ANDIA (IMO 9193197) departed the Malaysian EOPL anchorage on July 6, and is sailing to Zhoushan, China, with an ETA on July 17.

Six cargo ships are sailing in the South China Sea and East China sea to various ports across China. 

The container ships PARNIA (IMO 9167265) and ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) were anchored off Zhuhai, while the ABYAN (IMO 9349667) entered Zhuhai container terminal on July 5, for cargo operations.

Iran-flagged container ships at Zhuhai, China, on July 6 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Meanwhile, the general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) completed cargo operations at Jakarta, Indonesia, and departed on July 5.  Its next destination is unknown and it is not currently on AIS, after entering the Java Sea.