Iran War Shipping Update—March 20, 2026

Since the onset of Operation Epic Fury, UANI has monitored a significant volume of Iranian oil at sea. Illicit Iranian oil sales are a major source of funding for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is currently conducting military and terrorist operations targeting the U.S., Israel, Arab states in the Persian Gulf, and international shipping. In the weeks leading up to the conflict, Tehran sharply increased crude loadings and offshore stockpiling to cushion the impact of war on its oil trade. Amid ongoing hostilities, the Iranian regime’s Ghost Fleet continues to operate actively — loading cargo, transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and heading east toward its primary buyer, China. UANI’s regular shipping update will continue to monitor and report on the illicit maritime movements of the Iranian regime’s ghost fleet throughout the conflict.

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical flashpoint in the ongoing Iran war, as the Iranian regime intensifies efforts to disrupt maritime traffic. Since the start of the conflict, at least 21 commercial vessels have been hit.

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. On March 20, just one vessel was reported to openly, with their AIS on, transit the Strait of Hormuz.  

On March 20, the OFAC-sanctioned, UANI-listed tanker NORTH STAR (IMO 9299563) transited the Strait of Hormuz laden with Iranian fuel oil, intermittently switching its AIS off as indicated by the dotted track line below. The Panamax tanker briefly loitered off Qeshm Island before continuing through the strait, in a pattern that suggests some tankers may be receiving tacit clearance from the Iranian regime to transit after checks as well as reportedly substantial payments. 

Map of NORTH STAR transiting the Strait of Hormuz laden with Iranian oil on March 20 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers in the Persian Gulf 

UANI has identified at least 25 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 March 20

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the outbreak of the conflict, UANI has tracked at least 15 Iranian oil loadings, 11 of which originated from Kharg Island. These shipments represent approximately 20 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $1 billion for the IRGC, which continues to fund Iran’s active missile and drone programs central to the conflict. 

Iran-oil Laden Tankers That Have Left the Persian Gulf 

Since the start of the conflict, UANI has observed at least nine ghost fleet tankers that have left the Persian Gulf — some broadcasting their AIS signals and others operating clandestinely. The true number is likely significantly higher, as many vessels have switched off their AIS signals to avoid detection. These tankers are en route to Malaysia to conduct ship-to-ship (STS) transfers with other ghost fleet vessels bound for China.

Iran-flagged Tankers Globally

UANI has also monitored Iranian-flagged tankers operating beyond the Persian Gulf. On March 20, the Iranian-flagged tanker SILVIA 1 (IMO 9172052), laden with crude from Kharg Island, appeared on AIS in the Strait of Malacca en route to the Malaysian anchorages. This is the thirteenth Iranian-flagged tanker to reach Southeast Asian waters bound for the East Outer Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage off Johor, Malaysia, since the conflict began. Meanwhile, three Iranian-flagged tankers — HUGE (IMO 9357183), DEVON (IMO 9218454), and STARLA (IMO 9569621) — continued westbound through the Malacca Strait, returning to Iran. Since the start of the conflict, 14 tankers have begun returning to Iran from the Malaysian EOPL anchorage and Southeast Asian sea lanes.

 One Iranian-flagged tanker, laden with oil cargo, appeared in the Malacca Strait, and three empty Iranian-flagged tankers continued westbound back to Iran, on March 20 (Credit: Marine Traffic) 

Iran-Oil Laden Tankers off the Malaysian Coast

Since the start of the conflict, UANI has recorded 67 Iranian oil laden tankers in the East Outer Port Limits (EOPL) area, a ghost fleet hotspot approximately 70 km off Malaysia’s coast.  All of these have been spotted in satellite imagery, despite not broadcasting on AIS. 

On March 20, 29 tankers listed on UANI's Ghost Armada were anchored or loitering in the EOPL area with their AIS signals active. Three STS transfers involving Iranian crude and LPG were also observed via satellite imagery in this zone today. Despite the ongoing conflict, it is business as usual for the Iranian oil trade to China, where ghost fleet tankers continue to operate with impunity across Southeast Asia's sea lanes.

UANI Ghost Armada tankers passing the Singapore Strait to the EOPL area on March 20 (Credit: Marine Traffic)