Iran War Shipping Update - April 24, 2026

During the Iran War, the Iranian regime’s Ghost Fleet has continued to operate actively — loading cargo, transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and heading east toward its primary buyer, China. The U.S. blockade may now be constraining those exports, as UANI’s shipping updates continue to track the ghost fleet’s illicit maritime movements throughout the conflict.

The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports targets vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports, as well as vessels carrying contraband and sanctionable oil cargoes. However, the scope of the blockade is not intended to cover all Iran-linked ships. While some of vessels passing the blockade may be transporting Iranian-origin cargoes, the majority are likely not. UANI has observed vessels departing the Persian Gulf carrying oil products from other countries—in some cases, the origin of their cargoes remains unknown. U.S. forces prioritize high-value VLCC tankers over smaller Handymax oil and LPG carriers due to risk-reward calculus. True effectiveness of the blockade lies in disrupting regime oil revenue to China, raising sanctions evasion costs, deterring large shipments, and pressuring Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept American demands for a negotiated settlement. 

To read UANI’s full statement on the FAQs and keys facts about the U.S. blockade, click here.

U.S. Blockade 

On April 7, President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran. Pakistan mediated ceasefire talks, which President Trump stated was contingent on the “complete, immediate, and safe opening” of the Strait of Hormuz, effectively ending its wartime closure. However, on April 12, after ceasefire talks with Iran ended without an agreement, President Trump announced that the U.S. would initiate a naval blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas effective April 13. U.S. Central Command posted that U.S. forces are “executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports” on April 14. By blockading vessels calling on Iranian ports, including tankers carrying Iranian oil, the administration aims to cut off the Iranian regime’s major source of revenue. The blockade, now implemented, represents a significant escalation in U.S. enforcement strategy, with implications for global energy markets, regional stability, and the future calibration of U.S. sanctions policy.

A second round of U.S.-Iran talks was scheduled for April 21 in Islamabad, Pakistan but reports said the meeting was suspended indefinitely, after Iran refused participate insisting that the U.S. first end the blockade. President Donald Trump announced on April 21 that he would indefinitely extend the ceasefire until Iran responds to U.S. negotiating positions or until talks reach a dead end.

On April 24, U.S. CENTCOM posted that U.S. forces have directed 34 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port since the commencement of the blockade. 

U.S. CENTCOM update on the blockade on April 24 (U.S. CENTCOM/X)

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical flashpoint in the Iran War. Since the start of the conflict, 37 confirmed maritime incidents involving commercial vessels and offshore infrastructure have been reported across the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said it seized two container ships, EPAMINONDAS (IMO 9153862) and MSC FRANCESCA (IMO 9401116), in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22, claiming they violated Iranian maritime rules. EPAMINONDAS briefly transited towards Qeshm Island, but both tankers have since stopped broadcasting their AIS. There have been no recent updates on the status of these container ships. 

Two container ships reportedly seized by the IRGC on April 22 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

The escalating risk has created severe congestion and instability across the Persian Gulf’s shipping lanes. Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, about 138 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz daily.  Since March 1, 2026, marine traffic data shows growing clusters of loitering vessels on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, with many refraining from transiting due to safety concerns.

Strait of Hormuz (SoH) transits from April 6 to April 22 (Credit: JMIC)
 

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers in the Persian Gulf 

UANI has identified at least 21 tankers laden with Iranian oil — primarily crude — currently operating inside the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz.

Map of Iranian oil laden tankers in the Persian Gulf on April 24

Iran-linked Vessels at Chabahar Port, Iran

Iran-linked tankers are loitering and anchoring outside of the Persian Gulf at Chabahar Port, Iran. On April 23, nine Iran-flagged tankers, laden with Iranian oil, were observed in satellite imagery near Chabahar Port. 

Numerous Iran-flagged and Iranian oil-laden tankers that have attempted to cross the blockade have departed from Chabahar port, with five turning back in response to U.S. enforcement actions and two interdicted.

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the outbreak of the conflict, UANI has tracked at least 50 Iranian oil loadings, 26 of which originated from Kharg Island, Iran. These shipments represent approximately 60 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $5 billion for the IRGC, which continues to fund Iran’s active missile and drone programs central to the conflict. This figure is notably higher than usual given the sharp increase in oil prices, including Iranian crude.

Iran is reportedly expanding crude storage at Kharg Island by reactivating the 30-year-old VLCC NASHA (IMO 9079107), signaling that Iran’s main oil hub is nearing its onshore storage capacity. Previously anchored empty for years, the VLCC is being repositioned as floating storage to manage excess crude unable to exit the system.

Iran-flagged tanker transiting the Persian Gulf on April 24 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iran-oil Laden Tankers That Have Left the Persian Gulf

Since the start of the conflict, UANI has observed at least 52 ghost fleet tankers laden with Iranian oil that have left the Persian Gulf — some broadcasting their AIS signals and others operating clandestinely. These tankers are enroute to Malaysia to conduct ship-to-ship (STS) transfers with other ghost fleet vessels bound for China. 

After loitering near Jamnagar for about a week, FELICITY (IMO 9183934) and DERYA (IMO 9569700) departed the Gulf of Kutch, India. FELICITYleft on April 18, reporting empty, and then turned off its AIS signal. Satellite imagery confirms that FELICITY is heading back empty towards the Persian Gulf, with the tanker passing the U.S. blockade between April 20 and 21. Meanwhile, DERYA departed southward on April 19, still reporting laden with a deep draft of 20 meters, and then turned off its AIS. DERYA was later observed in satellite imagery travelling southbound along the Indian coastline on April 22. Reports suggested that this vessel was interdicted by U.S. naval forces, but this is yet to be confirmed. 

Tankers sailing the Arabian Sea between April 18 and 23 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

Iran-flagged Tankers Globally

UANI has also monitored Iran-flagged tankers operating beyond the Persian Gulf. Since the conflict began, at least 29 Iran-flagged tankers have reached Southeast Asian waters bound for the Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage off Johor, Malaysia. Today, HUMANITY (IMO 9180281) and HELM (IMO 9357391) transited the Malacca Strait broadcasting its AIS en route to the EOPL to conduct an STS transfer with another vessel bound for China.

Iran flagged tankers transited the Malacca Strait on April 24 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Meanwhile, at least 31 Iran-flagged tankers have begun returning and reporting empty to Iran from the Malaysian EOPL anchorage and Southeast Asian sea lanes, since the start of the conflict.  

Iran-Oil Laden Tankers off the Malaysian Coast

From February 28, the start of the conflict, to today, UANI has recorded 113 tankers laden with Iranian oil in the EOPL anchorage, a ghost fleet hotspot approximately 70 km off Malaysia’s coast. All of these tankers have been spotted in satellite imagery.

On April 24, 21 tankers listed on UANI's Ghost Armada were anchored or loitering in the EOPL area with their AIS signals active. On April 23, 2 STS transfers of Iranian crude were observed at this anchorage via satellite imagery. Despite the ongoing conflict, ghost fleet tankers continue to operate with impunity across Southeast Asia's sea lanes. 

Iran-Flagged Cargo Ships Globally

Three Iran-flagged cargo ships, MIAMI PRIDE (IMO 9274941), BATIS (IMO 9465760) and SHABDIS (IMO 9349588) all transited the South China Sea for various destinations on April 22. The bulk cargo ship MIAMI PRIDE sailed, laden with unknown cargo, to Kuantan, Malaysia, where it has now anchored. The container ships SHABDIS, similar to TOUSKA, is broadcasting Zhuhai, China, as its destination on AIS, while the destination for the laden bulk cargo ship BATIS is unknown. BATIS and SHABDIS both turned off their AIS signals on April 23, which is signified by the dotted line, and continue to sail towards China on April 24.

Iran flagged cargo ships in Southeast Asian waters on April 24 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The Iran-flagged, OFAC-sanctioned bulk carrier BAHJAT (IMO 9405954) arrived in port Kuantan, Malaysia on April 19, and began to discharge an unknown cargo on April 20. BAHJAT was berthed there alongside two other bulk cargo ships that each arrived at nearly the same time from Vostochny, and Nakhodka, Russia, near Vladivostok. BAHJAT remains berthed at Kuantan on April 24. The Iran-flagged cargo ship MIAMI PRIDE, laden with an unknown cargo, arrived at Kuantan on April 22, where it also remains today, likely awaiting its turn to pull into the terminal for cargo operations.

Two Iran-flagged cargo ships in Kuantan, Malaysia on April 24 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

The Iran flagged bulk carrier OURA (IMO 9387815) transited through the South China Sea on April 24. According to AIS, the vessel departed from Rajaei Port, Iran on April 5 laden with unknown cargo. Its destination remains unknown.

Iran flagged tanker transits past Malaysia on April 24 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

The Iranian flagged container ship SHABGOUN (IMO 9346524) is anchored at the Changjiangkou (CJK) anchorage near Shanghai, China on April 24. According to AIS, the vessel left the Persian Gulf on March 10 and stopped at Zhuhai Port, China, on March 23 before proceeding to its current location. It is reporting partially laden with unknown cargo.

Iran flagged container ship anchored near Shanghai, China on April 24 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

Three Iran-flagged, OFAC-sanctioned container ships remain at anchor outside Zhuhai Port on Gaolan Island, China. BEHNAVAZ (IMO 9346548) and BEHTA (IMO 9349590) have been anchored there since April 11 and 12. Meanwhile, RADIN (IMO 9820257) arrived from Shanghai, and pulled into Zhuhai Port on April 24. 

Iran flagged container ships near Zhuhai, China, on April 24 (Credit: Marine Traffic)