Iran War Shipping Update – June 1, 2026

Since the outbreak of the Iran War on February 28, Iran’s “Ghost Fleet” has continued operating across key maritime routes, including loading cargoes, transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and sailing east toward China. While UANI tracking indicates that illicit shipping activity remains ongoing, the U.S. blockade initiated on April 13 is now constraining Iran’s export capacity. The blockade targets vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports, as well as ships transporting sanctioned oil or contraband cargo, but does not apply to all Iran-linked maritime traffic. U.S. enforcement efforts have focused primarily on VLCC tankers, while smaller and support vessels continue to operate.

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

To read UANI's statement on why U.S. pressure on Iran's oil exports is working, click here.

On June 1, U.S. CENTCOM posted that U.S. forces have redirected 121 commercial ships and disabled 5 to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports since the commencement of the blockade. 

U.S. CENTCOM update on the U.S. blockade on June 1 (Credit: 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, 44 confirmed maritime incidents involving commercial vessels and offshore infrastructure have been reported across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. 

The enduring 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.

IRGC efforts to restrict Freedom of Navigation

The IRGC’s newly announced so-called “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” (PGSA) published a proposed scheme for controlling and restricting freedom of navigation through the international strait.  Such measures are in direct contradiction to UNCLOS Article 44, “Duties of States bordering straits,” which states:

“States bordering straits shall not hamper transit passage and shall give appropriate publicity to any danger to navigation or overflight within or over the strait of which they have knowledge. There shall be no suspension of transit passage.”

Any attempt to impose unilateral restrictions on transit passage through an international strait undermines the internationally recognized navigational rights guaranteed under UNCLOS.

IRGC PGSA tweet on May 21 (Credit: X)

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action and designated Iran’s so-called Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) on May 27.

On May 29, the National Hydrographer Office of Pakistan published the following Navigational Warning for NAVAREA IX (the Persian Gulf), reporting the sighting of a floating mine:

(NAVAREA IX Navigational Warning 180/26, Hydrographer of Pakistan)

Also on May 29, CENTCOM’s Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) published Advisory Note 006-26 advising owners, operators and mariners that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect. 

Advisory Note 006-26 on U.S. blockade (Credit: JMIC)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers Inside the U.S. Blockade

UANI has identified at least 68 tankers laden with Iranian oil — primarily crude, but also other petroleum products and LPG — currently operating inside the U.S. blockade line which can be drawn from the Iranian-Pakistan border to the most eastern point of Oman. 

Map of Iranian oil laden tankers inside the U.S. blockade on June 1

Iran-linked Vessels at Kharg Island, Iran

Satellite imagery from May 31 indicates an accumulation of tankers at the Kharg Island anchorage, idle offshore. 22 tankers were spotted in the anchorage area, at least 14 of which are laden with Iranian hydrocarbons which are highlighted in red in the map below. The buildup of tankers anchored here suggests increasing disruption to Iran’s crude export flows due to the ongoing US blockade, particularly shipments destined for China’s independent “teapot” refineries. 

Iran linked tankers anchored near Kharg Island on May 31 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the outbreak of the conflict, UANI has tracked at least 84 Iranian oil loadings, 45 of which originated from Kharg Island, Iran. These shipments represent approximately 86 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $6 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-linked Vessels at Chabahar Port, Iran

Iran-linked vessels are loitering and anchoring outside of the Persian Gulf at Chabahar Port, Iran. On May 31, 14 tankers, including 11 Iran-flagged tankers and three dark fleet vessels, all laden with Iranian oil, as well as 17 cargo vessels, the majority of which are Iran-flagged, were observed in satellite imagery near Chabahar Port. The red squares indicate laden tankers, and the green squares indicate cargo ships. Many of the Iran-flagged and Iranian oil-laden tankers that have attempted to cross the blockade departed from Chabahar Port, with at least eleven of these returning to port in response to a variety of U.S. enforcement actions. 

Iran linked tankers anchored near Chabahar on May 31 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

Iran-linked Vessels near Sri Lanka

Iran-linked tankers have been anchoring about 20 km offshore from Galle, Sri Lanka, likely for logistical support from local service providers but also in response to pressure from the U.S. blockade. On May 29, four Iran-flagged tankers, all unladen, plus four UANI Ghost Armada tankers, one of which carrying Iranian crude which is indicated by the red highlight in the map below, were anchored near Galle. 

Tankers anchored near Galle, Sri Lanka on May 29 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

Iran-flagged Tankers Globally

UANI has also monitored Iran-flagged tankers operating beyond the Persian Gulf. Since the conflict began, at least 32 Iran-flagged tankers have reached Southeast Asian waters bound for the Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage off Johor, Malaysia. 

Meanwhile, at least 39 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. On May 30, four Iran flagged tankers, HUMANITY (IMO 9180281), DUNE (IMO 9569712), SERENA (IMO 9569645) and SALINA (IMO 9357377) all departed the EOPL and then transited the Singapore and Malacca Straits at the same time. All vessels are reporting empty, and their destinations are unknown.   

Four Iran flagged tankers transiting the Malacca Strait on May 30 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iran-Oil Laden Tankers off the Malaysian Coast

From February 28, the start of the conflict, to today, UANI has recorded 69 STS transfers of Iranian crude oil and 5 STS transfers of LPG in the EOPL anchorage, a ghost fleet hotspot approximately 70 km off Malaysia’s coast. All of these transshipments have been spotted in satellite imagery.

On June 1, 38 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 US OFAC sanctions, approximately 40 Iranian flagged vessels continue to operate openly across sea lanes, ports, and anchorages throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Enhanced pressure from the enforcement of the US blockade on Iran and disrupted access to Iranian ports appears to be affecting vessel schedules and operations on a large scale which has contributed to increased instances of ships pausing and waiting in clusters at anchorages across the region. There is a risk of Iranian flagged cargo ships carrying contraband cargo in violation of US blockade. 

Iran-flagged vessels across the Indo-Pacific on June 1 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

There were no significant changes over the past 3 days to the multiple Iranian flagged tankers and cargo vessels that continued to anchor offshore of Karachi, Pakistan.  The cargo ships ARIES (IMO 9369722), MAHNAM (IMO 9213387), DELRUBA (IMO 9305207), WARTA (IMO 9465849), and PARNIA (IMO 9167265) were broadcasting on AIS while anchored about 60km offshore in the Pakistani Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The tankers STREAM (IMO 9569633), HERBY (IMO 9362059), SOBAR (IMO 9221970) and SARAK (IMO 9226968) are also anchored nearby. The container ship TOUSKA (IMO 9328900) remained anchored just 16 km outside Karachi port, inside Pakistani territorial waters. All of these Iran-flagged vessels are OFAC sanctioned. At least 10 other non-Iranian flagged Ghost Armada tankers are also anchored in the Pakistan EEZ.

Iran-flagged cargo vessels near Karachi, Pakistan on June 1 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)

On June 1, two OFAC-sanctioned, Iran-flagged cargo ships were anchored near Indian ports.   The container ship ARTENOS (IMO 9283021) is anchored in the Gulf of Kutch, located outside Kandla, India.  ENZO 2 (IMO 9236652) was anchored outside Mumbai, India, after arriving on May 29.

Iran-flagged container ships in Indian anchorages on June 1 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)

The Iran-flagged container ships ALOR 2 (IMO 9228538) and NORA (IMO 9259408) continued sailing west across the Arabian Sea after passing north of Socotra Island, Yemen. Both ships previously departed Misrata, Libya and are reporting their destinations as Port Klang, Malaysia, with estimated arrival of 8 and 10 June.

Iran-flagged container ships in the Arabian Sea on June 1 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The Iran-flagged container ships ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007) was anchored neat Uligan Island in the northern most atoll of the Maldives. The ship was previously drifting between India’s Minicoy Island and northern maritime boundary of the Maldives, while reporting “Not Under Command” on AIS.

Iran-flagged container ship near Maldives on June 1 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The Iran-flagged container ship AZARGOUN (IMO 9283019) departed Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, on May 31, and sailed around the island, past Galle, toward the Indian Ocean. The vessel’s destination is listed as Mumbai, India, with an estimated arrival of June 4. 

Iran-flagged container ship near Sri Lanka on June 1 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)

The Iran-flagged container ship NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) continued to sail east, across the Bay of Bengal toward the Malacca Strait. The vessel departed Misrata, Libya, on May 17 and its destination is listed as Singapore, with an estimated arrival of June 4.

Iran-flagged container ship transited the Bang of Bengal on June 1 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The Iran-flagged, OFAC sanctioned container ship VELON 1 (IMO 9122473) transited the Singapore Strait eastbound on June 1, toward the Malaysian Eastern Out of Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage. The vessel departed Novorossiysk, Russia on April 23, after unknown cargo operations, and transited the Suez Canel on May 9. VELON 1 is currently reporting on AIS that it is laden. 

VELON 1 is joining six other Iran-flagged cargo ships that remain anchored in the Malaysian EOPL anchorage area, openly broadcasting on AIS. The cluster of vessels include five bulk cargo ships ARVIN (IMO 9193202), MIAMI PRIDE (IMO 9274941), BASKAR (IMO 9405942), ANDIA (IMO 9193197), BAHJAT (IMO 9405954) and one container ship OURA (IMO 9387815). 

These OFAC sanctioned vessels are all likely waiting in the EOPL due to the U.S. blockade. 

Iran-flagged cargo ships at Malaysian EOPL on June 1 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)

The three Iran-flagged container ships SHABDIS (IMO 9349588), SHABGOUN (IMO 9346524) and BEHNAVAZ (IMO 9346548) remained anchored in the vicinity of Zhuhai, China. BEHNAVAZ completed cargo operations in Zhuhai port on May 26 and returned to the anchorage today. Zhuhai Port at Gaolan Island has been identified in media reports as a source of precursor chemicals for rocket fuel.

Meanwhile, the Iranian flagged tanker TOUR 2 (IMO 9364112), also known as KARIZ, was drifting about 70 km south of Hong Kong. It was observed in a Ship-to-Ship (STS) transfer on May 30 with another UANI blacklisted Ghost Armada tanker.

Iran-flagged container ships at Zhuhai, and tankers south of Hong Kong China, on June 1

(Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)