Iran Shipping Update – June 26, 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, the Singapore-flagged containership EVER LOVELY (IMO 9629110) was attacked by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), marking the first maritime incident since the signing of the MoU. Today, President Trump stated that four attack drones were launched at vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz; three were intercepted by U.S. forces, while one struck the upper deck of a cargo ship, which he noted was a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

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. In spite of yesterday’s IRGC attack on a cargo vessel, transits have resumed. Numerous vessels transiting the southern corridor east and westbound were observed in satellite imagery, some broadcasting their location on AIS, and others sailing dark. 

Strait of Hormuz Transits on June 26 at 06:46 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 32 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 43 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

UANI has identified at least 50 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 26

The large cluster of predominantly laden tankers at the Kharg anchorage remains. Over the past 24 hours, however, one Aframax tanker, laden with approximately 600,000 barrels of Iranian oil, has departed the anchorage.

Tankers at the Kharg Island anchorage on June 26 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

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.

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 26, 41 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 80 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 26 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Twelve Iranian-flagged cargo ships are heading back from Asian waters to Iranian ports including, Chabahar, Bandar Abbas and Bandar-e Imam Khomeini (BIK).

Meanwhile, at least 22 Iranian-flagged cargo ships have departed Iranian waters. Nineteen are sailing to Asian ports: twelve to China; four to Malaysia; three to Sri Lanka; two to the Suez Canal; and one to Tanzania. 

The Iranian-flagged general cargo ship AYSAN (IMO 9165803) entered the Gulf of Aden on its way to the Suez Canel. While VICTORIA 1 (IMO 9109550) is sailing southward, about 110 km off the Somali coast, toward its destination, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Five Iranian cargo ships are in Indian ports and anchorages today. The container ships ARTMAN (IMO 9405930) and NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) are both moored at Kandla Port for cargo operations. The HAMGAN (IMO 9226956) and ALOR 2 (IMO 9228538) are anchored in the Gulf of Kutch, near Kandla. The bulk carrier BAVAND (IMO 9387798) remained in port at Mormugao Port in Goa, India. All of these vessels are designated by OFAC and are not covered by the recent OFAC General License authorizing shipments of Iranian petroleum products.

Three cargo ships have stopped near Sri Lankan ports. The bulk carrier GANJ (IMO 9305219) remains anchored outside of Colombo port. The container ship ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) departed the at Trincomalee port anchorage today enroute to Zhuhai, China, while the container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590) arrived at the anchorage from Zhuhai. All three ships are OFAC sanctioned and are not covered by the recent OFAC General License X authorizing shipments of Iranian petroleum products.

Multiple other Iranian flagged ships, both tankers and cargo ships continue to transit past Sri Lanka, occasionally stopping briefly offshore of Galle, for logistics support. 

Iran flagged vessels near Sri Lanka on June 26 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Four Iranian cargo ships are currently enroute to Port Klang, Malaysia, including the container ship RAMA 3 (IMO 9303754), which is approaching the Six Degree Channel between India’s Nicobar Island and Bandar Ache, Indonesia. 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 estimated arrival in 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 and are not covered by the recent OFAC General License X authorizing shipments of Iranian petroleum products.

Twelve other Iranian-flagged cargo ships have departed Iranian waters, transited the Indian Ocean toward the Malacca Strait and are reporting various destinations in China. 

The container ship BASHT (IMO 9346536) transited the Singapore Strait eastbound and entered the South China Sea. Its destination is listed as the CJK anchorage near Shanghai, and it does not appear to be stopping at the Malaysian EOPL anchorage. BASHT is the first Iranian-flagged vessel to pass the Singapore 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 the Malaysian EOPL, since the former US blockade.

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

Today, Iran-flagged container ships AZARGOUN (IMO 9283019) and NORA (IMO 9259408) both arrived at Zhuhai Port, China, simultaneously. This may indicate a potential transshipment of cargo. AZARGOUN was previously in Mumbai, while NORA was previously in Shanghai.

Iran flagged vessels in Zhuhai Port, China, on June 26 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The container ship SHABDIS (IMO 9349588) remains at the CJK anchorage outside Shanghai.

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

 [CB1]let's mention the 5 Iran-flagged ships near Penang in the Malacca Strait