Iran War Shipping Update - April 28, 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. 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 28, U.S. CENTCOM posted that U.S. forces have directed 39 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port since the commencement of the blockade. 

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. Satellite imagery confirms that these two vessels are still in the Strait of Hormuz on April 27.

Two container ships reportedly seized by the IRGC in the Strait of Hormuz on April 27 (Credit: 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 10 to April 25 (Credit: JMIC)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers in the Persian Gulf 

UANI has identified at least 31 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 28

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 28, 10 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 departed from Chabahar port, with six turning back in response to U.S. enforcement actions.

Iran flagged tankers near Chabahar Port, Iran on April 28 (Credit: EOS LANDSAT)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the outbreak of the conflict, UANI has tracked at least 57 Iranian oil loadings, 35 of which originated from Kharg Island, Iran. These shipments represent approximately 70 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 was repositioned as floating storage to manage excess crude unable to exit the system. On April 26, NASHA was observed loading Iranian crude from the Azarpad loading jetty on the west side of Kharg Island in satellite imagery.

Iran-oil Laden Tankers That Have Left the Persian Gulf

Since the start of the conflict, UANI has observed at least 56 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. FELICITY has since been observed in satellite imagery loading Iranian crude from Kharg Island’s T-jetty on April 26.

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.

Meanwhile, at least 33 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. On April 28, the Iran flagged tanker SOBAR (IMO 9221970) is anchored off Colombo, Sri Lanka, reporting empty after departing the EOPL on April 18. It is likely receiving logistics support while en route back to Iran. 

Iran flagged tanker transited from EOPL to Colombo, Sri Lanka from April 18 to April 27 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iran-Oil Laden Tankers off the Malaysian Coast

From February 28, the start of the conflict, to today, UANI has recorded 116 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 28, 17 tankers listed on UANI's Ghost Armada were anchored or loitering in the EOPL area with their AIS signals active. At least one STS transfer of Iranian crude was observed in this anchorage today according to 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

Four Iran-flagged, OFAC-sanctioned container ships remain at anchor outside Zhuhai Port on Gaolan Island, China. BEHNAVAZ (IMO 9346548), BEHTA (IMO 9349590) and SHABDIS (IMO 9349588), were joined by RADIN (IMO 9820257) on April 28. RADIN conducted unknown cargo ops in Zhuhai Port from April 24-25, and then departed, heading south into the South China Sea. On April 27, about 400km south of Zhuhai, RADIN appeared to stop and began drifting for an unknown reason and then returned to the anchorage area near the other three ships. It is possible that RADIN had a rendezvous with another undetected vessel.

Iran flagged container ships near Zhuhai, China, on April 28 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)

The Iran-flagged, OFAC-sanctioned bulk carrier BASKAR (IMO 9405942) remained in port Yangjiang, China on April 28, for unknown cargo operations. BASKAR departed Bandar Abbas on April 3 and transited the Singapore Strait on April 20. This is the first Iranian ship to visit Yangjiang port since the start of the war.

The Iran-flagged container ship SHABGOUN (IMO 9346524) remained anchored at the Changjiangkou (CJK) anchorage near Shanghai, China. Meanwhile, the Iran-flagged bulk carrier ANDIA (IMO 9193197) appeared to enter Shanghai Port before ceasing its AIS broadcast, while the Iran-flagged bulk carrier ARVIN (IMO 9193202) continued sailing south.

Iran flagged cargo ships by Shanghai, China on April 27-28 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The Iran-flagged cargo ship MIAMI PRIDE (IMO 9274941) continued unknown cargo ops in Kuantan Port anchorage on April 29. It has been moored there since April 25.

Iran-flagged cargo ship in Kuantan, Malaysia and Malacca Strait on April 27 (Credit: EOS LANDSAT)

The Iran-flagged container ship AZARGOUN (IMO 9283019) continued sailing east in the Bay of Bengal toward the Malacca Strait. The OFAC-sanctioned vessel departed Colombo, Sri Lanka, on April 25 after anchoring just outside the port from April 21–25 and conducting unknown operations. AZARGOUN had earlier performed unknown cargo operations in Kandla, India, on April 16 following its departure from Bandar Abbas on April 12; its current AIS destination is Port Klang, Malaysia, with an estimated arrival on May 1.

Iran flagged container ship in the Bay of Bengal, on April 28 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)