Iran Shipping Update – August 18, 2026

The security situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains highly volatile. The 60-day period established under the June 17 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) expired on 17 August without a final agreement, following the MoU’s earlier collapse and the reinstatement of a U.S. blockade. Since then, Iran has targeted commercial shipping and Gulf States, while Tehran’s Yemeni Houthi partners continue to threaten an expansion of the maritime conflict into the Red Sea.

U.S. Blockade and Sanctions

On July 14 at 4 p.m. ET, U.S. forces reimposed the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas while supporting compliant traffic in regional waters. As of August 17, U.S. forces have redirected 64 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 3 that didn't comply, and boarded 2 to ensure total compliance.

On August 18, President Trump stated that the blockade remains in full force, the Strait of Hormuz is open and operating and that all mines in the waterway have been removed or detonated. 

Houthi Blockade

On July 20, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabian ports.

Houthi threats and attacks against Saudi-linked shipping are already prompting some tankers, but not all, to reroute in the Red Sea. Rising insecurity in the Red Sea has caused a drop in tanker transits through Bab el-Mandeb of roughly 40% since the Houthis declared their blockade, according to data published by Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC). Numerous tankers have been observed broadcasting “CHINESE OWNER” or “ARMED GUARD ON BOARD” as their destination during the transit of the Bab el-Mandeb, likely to help prevent being targeted.

In addition, the Houthis are reportedly considering charging most vessels to cross Bab el-Mandeb, with Chinese-flagged ships exempted under a separate safe-passage understanding already in place.

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

Since the start of the Iran War, the International Maritime organization (IMO) has reported 70 maritime incidents involving commercial vessels 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 large clusters of loitering vessels on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, with many ships refraining from transiting due to safety concerns. After the signing of the MoU, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) 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. As of August 17, JMIC has reported a total of 811 vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the date of the signing of the MoU.

Open transits of commercial vessels through the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz declined following the IRGC strikes on commercial shipping starting July 7 but have not ceased entirely. Since the strikes, the traffic has been dominated by Iranian- and Chinese-linked vessels transiting via the northern corridor. Over the past week, an increasing number of vessels have transited the southern corridor without broadcasting AIS location data, with many of these movements facilitated by U.S. forces. According to the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), 1010 U.S.-facilitated transits of the Strait of Hormuz have occurred since the signing of the MoU.

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers Departing the Gulf of Oman

Since the announcement of the MoU on June 14, UANI has tracked 67 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 80 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $6 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.

Tankers laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals are currently clustering in anchorages along the Iranian coastline due to the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. Since the reinstatement of the blockade, around only five handymaxes carrying Iranian LPG have successfully passed the blockade line. UANI has, however, not tracked any tanker laden with Iranian crude oil that has departed the Gulf of Oman and avoided enforcement actions by U.S. forces since July 12, before the blockade was reinstated.  

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers

UANI has identified at least 54 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 August 18 (Credit: UANI)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the signing of the U.S.-Iran MoU on June 17, UANI has tracked at least 43 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, 14 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, 26 Iran-flagged tankers have reached the Singapore Strait bound for the EOPL anchorage off Johor, Malaysia. All these Iranian tankers are expected to conduct STS transfers in the EOPL. On August 17, five STS of Iranian oil took place in the Malaysian EOPL anchorage and three of them involved Iran-flagged tankers. 

STS transfers of Iranian oil in the Malaysian EOPL on August 17 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

There are 7 Iran-flagged tankers currently in the EOPL: HUMANITY (IMO 9180281), STARLA (IMO 9569621), HILDA I (IMO 9357389), DAN (9357729), HAPPINESS I (IMO 9212905), HEDY (IMO 9212888) and DORENA (IMO 9569669). They have all previously passed the Singapore Strait and have since stopped broadcasting their location on AIS. 

DREAM II (IMO 9356593) joined STREAM (IMO 9569633), HALTI (IMO 9212890), SEA CLIFF (IMO 9569657), HERO II (IMO 9362073), SILVIA I (IMO 9172052), SNOW (IMO 9569619), HELM (IMO 9357391), DUNE (IMO 9569712), DEEP SEA (IMO 9218492), DIAMOND II (IMO 9218478), DINO 1 (IMO 9569671), SONIA I (IMO 9357365), DORE (IMO 9357717), HERBY (IMO 9362059), SEVIN (IMO 9357353), FELICITY (IMO 9183934), HENNA (IMO 9212929), AMBER (IMO 9357406) and DIONA (IMO 9569695) as the Iran-flagged tankers that have departed the EOPL in ballast after completing STS transfers.

Iran-flagged tanker transiting the Singapore Strait on August 18

(Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

SEA CLIFF has been loitering in ballast in the EOPL for over 2 months after conducting an STS transfer in early May. STARLA also left the EOPL empty, conducted another STS with the Iran-flagged tanker DEEP SEA in the Malacca Strait, and has since returned to the EOPL laden with Iranian crude, bringing the total to seventeen Iran-flagged tankers that have departed the EOPL empty since the signing of the MoU.

Iran-flagged HUGE (IMO 9357183) has also departed the EOPL anchorage. This tanker had been loitering unladen in the EOPL anchorage for over two weeks after conducting an STS transfer of Iranian crude south of Hong Kong in the South China Sea on July 9. It is most likely headed to the Galle anchorage to join the other Iran-flagged tankers in ballast.

These departing Iran-flagged tankers are now heading to anchorages across the Indo-Pacific rather than back to Iranian ports because of the U.S. blockade. DIONA is loitering offshore Duqm, Oman, while 17 empty Iran-flagged tankers are currently anchored of Galle, Sri Lanka. Namely, HERO II, SILVIA I, SEA CLIFF, SNOW, HELM, DIAMOND II, DEEP SEA, DUNE, DINO I, SONIA I, HERBY, SEVIN, AMBER, HENNA, FELICITY, HUGE and DORE. On August 18, the locations of seven out of 17 of these Iran-flagged tankers were confirmed by satellite imagery.

Empty Iran-flagged tankers near Galle, Sri Lanka on August 18 (Credit: EOS Landsat & Marine Traffic)

On August 18, at least 44 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, and new constraints of the U.S. Blockade on Iranian ports, approximately 50 Iranian flagged cargo ships continue to operate openly across sea lanes, ports, and anchorages throughout the Indo-Pacific region, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean.

Iran-flagged cargo vessels across the region on August 18 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Karachi OPL anchorage, the laden bulk carrier BATIS (IMO 9465760) continued to loiter at anchor. BATIS will likely continue loitering in the Karachi OPL due to the U.S. Blockade. 

In the Gulf of Kutch, the container ship VELON 1 (IMO 9122473) remained anchored near Kandla. VELON 1 is broadcasting on AIS under different flags, although listed in the official IMO GISIS database as registered under the Iranian flag. Meanwhile, ARTMAN (IMO 9405930) and ARTAM (IMO 9284154) are each anchored outside the entrance of the Gulf of Kutch. The container ship SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) continued sailing to Mumbai, with an estimated arrival of August 19.

Iran-flagged cargo ships in the Gulf of Kutch and near Mumbai on August 18 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Andaman Sea, the bulk carrier DELNAVAZ (IMO 9387803) remained in port at the Phuket Deep Sea Port, Thailand.

At Port Klang, Malaysia, the container ships VIRA 1 (IMO 9088524), SHIBA (IMO 9270646) and ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007) continued to loiter at the anchorage outside the port in the Malacca Strait.

Iran-flagged cargo ships at Port Klang and Malacca Strait on August 17 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At the Malaysian EOPL, ten cargo ships loitered in and near the EOPL. Just north of the EOPL, five bulk cargo ships remained anchored: ANDIA (IMO 9193197), BAHJAT (IMO 9405954), GOLAFRUZ (IMO 9323833), GANJ (IMO 9305219) and BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978). Meanwhile, in the EOPL, another five cargo ships continued to loiter: the bulk cargo ship AMINA (IMO 9305192), general cargo ship PARNIA (IMO 9167265) and three container ships BASHT (IMO 9346536), ARZIN (IMO 9284142) and HAMOUNA (IMO 9820271). These ships will likely remain in the EOPL while the U.S. blockade is still in force, receiving occasional logistics support, despite the risk of secondary sanctions from U.S. Treasury OFAC.

Iran-flagged cargo ships near the EOPL on August 18 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Gulf of Thailand, the bulk cargo ship ARDAVAN (IMO 9465863) remained at Laem Chabang, Thailand and moored at the Siam Commercial Sea Port. The bulk cargo ship PARISAN (IMO 9465851), continued cargo operations while moored at Songkhla, Thailand.

Iran-flagged cargo ship at Songkhla on August 18 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The container ships ARIES (IMO 9369722) and ARTIN (IMO 9305221) continued to transit south in the South China Sea. Both ships will likely stop at the Malaysian EOPL. The general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) approached Ving Tau and the entrance to Ho Chi Minh City port from the South China Sea.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near Ho Chi Minh City on August 18 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The bulk carrier DARYABAR (IMO 9369710) remained in port at Dafeng port bulk terminal.  Meanwhile, the bulk cargo ship PARSHAD (IMO 9387786) departed Zhoushan Island in ballast condition for the Malaysian EOPL, with an estimated arrival of August 29.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near Zhoushan on August 18 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)

The container ship ABYAN (IMO 9349667) sailed north into the East China Sea, after passing the Taiwan Strait.  It is likely headed back to Shanghai and the CJK anchorage. The ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) has not been detected on AIS since it last briefly pinged while loitering in the Taiwan Strait.

Near Shanghai, the container ship BARZIN (IMO 9820269) completed cargo operations in port and returned to the CJK anchorage, joining KASHAN (IMO 9270696).

At Zhuhai, the container ships RAYEN (IMO 9820245), RADIN (IMO 9820257) and ARTENOS (IMO 9283021) remained anchored just south of the Gaolan Island in Zhuhai, China. Meanwhile, the container ship ALOR 2 (IMO 9228538)arrived and anchored near Hong Kong.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near Hong Kong on August 18 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

Near Sri Lanka, the container ship NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) arrived near the Galle anchorage and began to loiter, likely for logistics, near the other Iran-flagged tankers anchored there. The container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590), passed south of Sri Lanka, without stopping and entered the Bay of Bengal sailing east toward the Malacca Strait. BEHTA is sailing to Shanghai, China from its previous port visit at Bronka, Russia in the Baltic.

Iran-flagged cargo ships near Sri Lanka on August 18 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)

In the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Iran-flagged general cargo ship ALVAN (IMO 9165798) remained anchored outside Benghazi, Libya. Libya is under certain UN sanctions, and an arms embargo, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2819 (2026). Near the Suez Canal, the general cargo ship AYSAN (IMO 9165803) remained anchored at the Suez anchorage south of the canal.

The container ship FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322) entered the Aegean Sea from the Mediterranean. Its new destination is listed on AIS as Novorossiysk, Russia, in the northern Black Sea. FLEXI 2 will have to submit advance transit notifications to Turkish authorities before entering the Dardanelles and transiting the Turkish Straits. Under the Turkish Straits Reporting System (TÜBRAP), vessels must file a Sailing Plan report at least 24 hours before arrival at the straits. The report provides Turkish Vessel Traffic Services (TSVTS) with key information including the vessel's identity, dimensions, cargo, draft, and estimated time of arrival, allowing authorities to plan and organize traffic through the congested Bosporus and Dardanelles.

Iran-flagged cargo ship in the Mediterranean on August 18 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The container ship SHABDIS (IMO 9349588) arrived at its destination in the Russian Baltic and anchored in the St. Petersburg anchorage.

Iran-flagged cargo ship in the Baltic Sea on August 18 (Credit: Marine Traffic)