Iran Shipping Update – June 25, 2026

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued a broad 60-day authorization, General License X, for Iranian oil exports. This follows a U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran signed by President Trump on June 17, lifting a two month-long maritime blockade on Iranian ports and leading to a resumption of Iranian oil exports. To read UANI’s Statement on the MoU, click here.

General License X

General License X authorizes the production, delivery and sale of crude oil, petrochemical products, and petroleum products of Iranian origin through August 21, 2026. It also permits transactions to be conducted in U.S. dollars for the first time in decades. While Washington has issued limited waivers and technical licenses over the years, including this year with General License U, this is the first broad authorization for the production, sale, transport, financing, and import of Iranian oil since the reimposition of sweeping U.S. oil sanctions in 2019.

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

Since the start of the Iran War, 51 confirmed maritime incidents involving commercial vessels and offshore infrastructure have been reported across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.

On June 25, a cargo vessel was attacked by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), marking the first maritime incident since the signing of the MoU. The vessel was struck on the starboard side by a projectile, causing damage to the bridge.

UKMTO warning on June 25 (Credit: UKMTO)

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily paused its evacuation plan following the attack on a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after passing through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the IMO Secretary-General, the decision was taken to reassess safety conditions and ensure that adequate guarantees remain in place for vessels operating in the region.  

Prior to the outbreak of the Iran War, about 138 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz daily. Throughout the conflict, marine traffic data showed growing clusters of loitering vessels on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, with many refraining from transiting due to safety concerns. Since the signing of the MoU, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) has 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. 

Vessel Transits of the Strait of Hormuz (Data Credit: JMIC)

Initially, post-MoU transits were dominated by Chinese- and Iran-linked traffic using the northern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz. However, there has since been an increase in transits, including Western-linked vessels, through the southern corridor, likely reflecting its gradual widening due to demining operations, as well as a broader increase in commercial willingness to transit the Strait. However, given the vessel attack and the IRGC reportedly instructing multiple tankers transiting the southern corridor to turn around on June 25, transits have slowed. 

Strait of Hormuz Transits on June 25 at 08:30 UTC (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers Departing the Gulf of Oman

Since the announcement of the MoU on June 14, UANI has tracked 31 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 41 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $3.5 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.

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers Inside Iranian Waters

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.   

Map of Iranian oil laden tankers on June 25

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the signing of the U.S.-Iran MoU on June 17, UANI has tracked at least 11 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, three of which originated from Kharg Island, Iran. On June 25, one suezmax tanker was observed loading Iranian crude from Kharg Island’s T-jetty in satellite imagery. 

One tanker loading Iranian crude at Kharg Island on June 25 (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 42 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. 

Iran-Oil Laden Tankers off the Malaysian Coast

On June 25, 45 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, approximately 75 Iranian flagged vessels continue to operate openly across sea lanes, ports, and anchorages throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Since the announcement of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the lifting of the blockade, nearly all the Iranian ships outside of the Persian Gulf have begun sailing back to Iran. Meanwhile, more than a dozen cargo vessels have departed Iranian ports for Asia.

Iran-flagged vessels across the Indo-Pacific on June 25 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Twelve Iranian-flagged cargo ships are transiting back towards Iranian ports including, Chabahar, Bandar Abbas and Bandar-e Imam Khomeini (BIK).

The container ship TOUSKA (IMO 9328900) is currently anchored in the Chabahar anchorage alongside Iran-flagged cargos GOLBON (IMO 9283033) and ARTAM (IMO 9284154) and Iran flagged unladen tanker HELM (IMO 9357391). Another empty tanker HAWK (IMO 9362061) arrived at the anchorage later in the day after the satellite image was taken. In addition, three tankers laden with Iranian oil, HILDA 1 (IMO 9357389), FURY (IMO 9280873), and RONIA (IMO 9286229), are also in this anchorage but are not broadcasting their location on AIS. Meanwhile, the Iran-flagged container ship ARTENOS (IMO 9283021) is moored in Chabahar Port.

Iran flagged vessels near Chabahar, Iran on June 25 (Credit: ESA Copernicus & Marine Traffic)

Meanwhile, at least 20 Iranian-flagged cargo ships have departed Iranian waters. Eighteen are sailing to Asian ports, mostly to China.  

VICTORIA 1 (IMO 9109550) and AYSAN (IMO 9165803) are sailing south, along Omani waters toward the Gulf of Aden. AYSAN is headed for the Suez Canal, Egypt, while the VICTORIA 1 has listed it destination as Dar es Salaam. 

The container ship ARTMAN (IMO 9405930) is in Kandla Port, in India, for cargo operations, while the HAMGAN (IMO 9226956) is in the Gulf of Kutch, approaching Kandla. The bulk carrier BAVAND (IMO 9387798) is currently at Mormugao Port in Goa, India. All of these vessels are designated by OFAC and are not covered by the recent General License authorizing shipments of Iranian petroleum products.

Two cargo ships are in Sri Lankan anchorages. The bulk carrier GANJ (IMO 9305219) is anchored outside of Colombo, while the container ship ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) is anchored outside Trincomalee port. Both ships are OFAC sanctioned.

Today, four other Iranian-flagged cargo vessels, BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978), ARVIN (IMO 9193202), HAMOUNA (IMO 9820271) and BASKAR (IMO 9405942), and three Iranian-flagged tankers, SERENA (IMO 9569645), SALINA (9357377) and DORENA (IMO 9569669), were all spotted in satellite imagery, transiting the Laccadive Sea past Sri Lanka. 

Iran flagged vessels near Sri Lanka on June 25 (Credit: ESA Copernicus & Marine Traffic)

Four Iranian cargo ships are currently enroute to Port Klang, Malaysia, including the container ship RAMA 3 (IMO 9303754), which passed Sri Lanka and entered the Bay of Bengal. RAMA 3 previously departed a Russian Baltic port near St Petersburg on approximately May 26, although it had not been broadcasting AIS while in Russian waters. Its estimate arrival to Port Klang is June 29. The other ships destined for Port Klang are PARNIA (IMO 9167265), SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) and SHIBA (IMO 9270646). All of these ships are OFAC sanctioned.

Twelve Iranian-flagged cargo ships have departed Iranian waters and are reporting various destinations in China. 

The container ship BEHNAVAZ (IMO 9346548) transited the Six Degree Channel and entered the Bay of Bengal, returning to Bandar Abbas, Iran.

In the Malacca Strait, the container ship SHABGOUN (IMO 9346524) transited north, returning to Chabahar, Iran, while BASHT (IMO 9346536) passed it transiting southwards. BASHT is the first Iranian-flagged vessel to reach the Malacca Strait after the lifting of the U.S. blockade.

The bulk cargo ship ANDIA (IMO 9193197) is the last Iran-flagged vessel remaining anchored in Malaysian EOPL.

Iran-flagged general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) is anchored outside of Vung Tau, Vietnam, in the South China Sea. 

Iran-flagged container ships AZARGOUN (IMO 9283019) and NORA (IMO 9259408) are both approaching Zhuhai Port, China. 

The container ship SHABDIS (IMO 9349588) remains anchored at the anchorage near Shanghai.

The Iran-flagged bulk cargo ship BATIS (IMO 9465760) is moored at Tianjin Port, China.