Iran Shipping Update – June 30, 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.

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.

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 30 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 37 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 46 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $4 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. Two tankers, STREAM (IMO 9569633) and ALBA (IMO 9268112), transited the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian crude on June 30.

Tankers laden with Iranian crude transiting 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 30 (Credit: UANI)

The large cluster of predominantly laden tankers at the Kharg anchorage remains. On June 30, 15 laden tankers were observed in the Kharg anchorage, plus a VLCC loading approximately 2 million barrels of Iranian crude at Kharg Island’s Azarpad jetty. Only a couple of laden tankers have left the anchorage since the signing of the MoU. 

Tankers near Kharg Island, Iran on June 30 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the signing of the U.S.-Iran MoU on June 17, UANI has tracked at least 13 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, six 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 35 Iran-flagged tankers have reached Southeast Asian waters bound for the Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage off Johor, Malaysia. On June 30, SONIA I (IMO 9357365) transited the Malacca Strait toward the EOPL, laden with Iranian crude. This Iran-flagged tanker is the third to reach Southeast Asian sea lanes since the lifting of the U.S. blockade, following DIONA (IMO 9569695), which ceased AIS transmission on June 28, and HERO II (IMO 9362073), which did so on June 29, prior to reaching the EOPL. They may be en route to conduct an STS transfer in the EOPL, 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 30 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

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 30, 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 30 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Eleven 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. Also, two vessels are sailing to the Suez Canal; one to Kenya; and one to Tanzania. 

The Iranian-flagged general cargo ship AYSAN (IMO 9165803) is sailing north in the Red Sea after passing the Bab El-Mandeb Strait yesterday, on its way to the Suez Canel. ALVAN (IMO 9165798) is sailing west in the Gulf of Aden, also to the Suez Canal. While VICTORIA 1 (IMO 9109550) is sailing southward, about 200 km off of Mogadishu, Somali, 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) and ARTAM (IMO 9284154) are both anchored in the Gulf of Kutch, near Kandla. Meanwhile, NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) pulled into Nhava Sheva Container Terminal in Mumbai. 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.

Two cargo ships have stopped near Sri Lankan ports. The bulk carrier AMINA (IMO 9305192) is anchored outside of Colombo port, while the container ship SHABGOUN (IMO 9346524) remains at the Trincomalee anchorage. Both ships are OFAC sanctioned and are not covered by the recent OFAC General License X authorizing shipments of Iranian petroleum products.

Three cargo ships transited past Sri Lanka today. The bulk carriers ARDAVAN (IMO 9305192) transited the Bay of Bengal northbound to Trincomalee Port, reporting laden and PARISAN (IMO 9465851), also reporting laden, is heading for an unknown port in China. Meanwhile, container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590) departed the Trincomalee port anchorage and transited southbound towards the Suez Canal, Egypt. 

Three Iran flagged cargo ships transiting near Sri Lanka on June 30 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

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 Iran-flagged cargo vessels have departed Iranian waters and are reporting various destinations in China, with eight currently transiting the Malacca Strait. Twelve Iran-flagged tankers are also presently in the Malacca Strait.

At Port Klang, Malaysia, the general cargo ship PARNIA (IMO 9167265), completed cargo operations and departed, sailing south in the Malacca Strait.  Its destination is Zhuhai, China, with an estimated arrival of July 6. The container ship RAMA 3 (IMO 9303754) pulled into Port Klang container terminal immediately before the PARNIA departed, for cargo operations and is expected to depart on July 1.  RAMA 3 previously departed a Russian Baltic port near St Petersburg on approximately May 26.  SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) remained at the anchorage. Meanwhile, SHIBA (IMO 9270646) which entered the northern part of the Malacca Strait today, is estimated to arrive 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 30 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

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

The container ships HARMOUNA (IMO 9820271) and RAYEN (IMO 9820245) transited the Singapore Strait on June 30 and entered the South China Sea on to a reported destination of Shanghai, China.

The container ship ABYAN (IMO 9349667) continued sailing the South China Sea northbound to its destination Zhuhai, China, with an estimate arrival of July 3. 

Iran-flagged general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) continued sailing the South China Sea to 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) continued sailing the South China Sea, approaching the vicinity of Taiwan, with its destination listed as the CJK anchorage near Shanghai. 

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

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