Iran Shipping Update – July 8, 2026

Following the Islamic Republic of Iran's attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on July 7, uncertainty across the Persian Gulf has intensified. In response, the United States launched a series of strikes against Iranian military and IRGC targets associated with maritime threats. The U.S. Department of the Treasury also revoked General License X, the broad 60-day sanctions waiver issued on June 22 that had temporarily authorized Iranian oil exports under the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The revocation effectively ends the brief period during which Iranian crude could again be openly exported under U.S. authorization and marks a return to maximum economic pressure.

To read UANI's Statement on the MoU, click here.

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

Since the start of the Iran War, the International Maritime organization (IMO) has reported 52 maritime incidents involving commercial vessels have been reported across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.

The most recent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacks on commercial shipping include the Qatari-owned LNG tanker AL REKAYYAT (IMO 9397339), Saudi-flagged tanker WEDYAN (IMO 9524970), and Liberian-flagged tanker CYPRUS PROSPERITY (IMO 9595216). In response, U.S. forces conducted 80 strikes targeting Iranian air defenses, command and control systems, coastal radar, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 IRGC small boats to degrade its ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait.

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. 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. As of July 6, JMIC has reported a total of 541 vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the date of the signing of the MoU.

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

In the days following the 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. Open transits of commercial vessels through the southern corridor declined following the maritime strikes on June 25 and 27, as well as July 6 and 7, but have not ceased entirely.

Strait of Hormuz transits on July 8 at 12:00 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 52 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 62 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $4.5 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. On July 8, at least four tankers transited the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian crude and fuel oil, transporting a combined volume exceeding 3 million barrels of oil.

Tankers laden with Iranian oil departing the Gulf of Oman on July 8 (Credit: ESA Copernicus & Marine Traffic)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers

UANI has identified at least 45 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 July 8 (Credit: UANI)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the signing of the U.S.-Iran MoU on June 17, UANI has tracked at least 20 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, 11 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 and the lifting of the U.S. blockade, 15 Iran-flagged tankers have reached the Singapore Strait bound for the Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage off Johor, Malaysia.

There are currently 14 tankers in the EOPL: DIAMOND II (IMO 9218478), FELICITY (IMO 9183934), DINO 1 (IMO 9569671), HEDY (IMO 9212888), DORE (IMO 9357717), SEVIN (IMO 9357353), HENNA (IMO 9212929), SILVIA I (IMO 9172052), AMBER (IMO 9357406), DORENA (IMO 9569669), SNOW (IMO 9569619) and STARLA (IMO 9569621), HERO II (IMO 9362073) and SONIA I (IMO 9357365), which have all previously passed the Singapore Strait and have since stopped broadcasting their location on AIS. Seven of these tankers have since been spotted in satellite imagery, confirming their location.

All these Iranian tankers will most likely conduct STS transfers in the EOPL. On July 8, two Iran-flagged tankers were observed conducting STS transfers of Iranian crude oil in satellite imagery.

Iran-flagged tankers conducting STS transfers in EOPL on July 8 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

Some may proceed to an anchorage area south of Hong Kong, where the Iranian flagged tanker HUGE (IMO 9357183) was observed in satellite imagery still loitering. It is unlikely that any will proceed directly to Chinese ports, and that would mark a significant change in operational procedure. It remains to be seen how the evolving patterns of Iran’s oil trade and dark fleet operations will change following the signing of the MoU.

On July 8, at least 49 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. 

Meanwhile, Iran-flagged tanker DIONA (IMO 9569695) departed the EOPL, transited the Singapore Strait westbound and is currently sailing west in the Malacca Strait. It is reporting ballast condition on AIS, indicating that it completed a Ship-to-Ship (STS) transfer, while in the EOPL, and is now most likely returning to Iran. DIONA was the first tanker to arrive in the EOPL following the lifting of the US blockade and now it is the first tanker to openly begin its return transit. 

Iran-flagged tanker in Malacca Strait on July 8 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

Iran-Flagged Cargo Ships Globally

Despite ongoing pressure of U.S. OFAC sanctions, approximately 70 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 30 cargo vessels have departed Iranian ports for Asia.

Iran-flagged vessels across the Indo-Pacific on July 8 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At least 40 Iranian-flagged cargo ships are operating in waters outside of Iran, across the Indo-Pacific, the Red Sea and the eastern Mediterranean.

The container ship FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322), which departed Novorossiysk on June 27, transited the Bosphorus and carried out cargo operations in Misrata, Libya on July 4, is now anchored near Port Said, Egypt. Meanwhile, the general cargo ship AYSAN (IMO 9165803) has left Port Said and is under way to Benghazi, Libya.

The cargo ships BEHTA (IMO 9349590), ALVAN (IMO 9165798) and NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) are all headed north in the Red Sea, to the Suez Canal.

The bulk carrier VICTORIA 1 (IMO 9109550) remains at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. General Cargo ships NESHAT (IMO 9167277) and GOLSAN (IMO 9165815) are both sailing the Arabia Sea towards Mombasa, Kenya.

Two Iranian cargo ships are in the Gulf of Kutch, India. The container ship ARTAM (IMO 9284154) completed cargo operations and departed Kandla, India and is currently heading to Mumbai, with an estimated arrival of July 10. GOLBON (IMO 9283033) remained in the anchorage. Both vessels are designated by OFAC.

Three cargo ships are transiting the Bay of Bengal eastbound, while four have passed the Six-Degree Channel, approaching the Malacca Strait. Another two cargo vessels are sailing south in the Malacca Strait toward the Singapore Strait. 

The general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) is sailing to the port of Belawan, near the city of Medan in Sumatra, Indonesia. AREZOO had previously departed Jakarta on July 5.  

Iran-flagged cargo ship on July 8 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At Port Klang, Malaysia, the Iran-flagged container ship ENZO 2 (IMO 9236652), SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) and SHIBA (IMO 9270646) remain in the anchorage area. Two other ships are enroute to Port Klang. DAISY (IMO 9270684), which entered the Malacca Strait, has an estimated arrival of July 10. ZYRA (IMO 9237084), which is in the Arabian Sea, has an estimated arrival of July 17. ZYRA is sailing from Misrata, Libya, and the Russian Baltic, prior to that. All of these ships are sanctioned by OFAC.

Iran-flagged cargo ships at Port Klang, on July 8 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)

Fourteen cargo ships are sailing in the South China Sea and East China sea to and from various ports in China. 

The container ship RAYEN (IMO 9820245), which is bound for the CJK anchorage at Shanghai via the South China Sea, continued reporting “Not Under Command” on AIS. It is still drifting about 260km west of Northern Luzon, just outside the Philippines EEZ.

Iran-flagged container ship drifting in South China Sea, on July 8 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The container ship BARZIN (IMO 9820269), which had been sailing to CJK anchorage near Shanghai, made a U-turn in the Taiwan Strait, and is now loitering south of the Taiwan Strait, most likely due to Super Typhoon Bavi that will pass north of Taiwan in the next few days. 

The container ship PARNIA (IMO 9167265) completed cargo operations in Zhuhai Container Terminal, departed the port and sailed south into the South China Sea reporting its destination as Bandar Abbas. ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) remained in Zhuhai container terminal. BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978) pulled into Zhuhai port and berthed at the bulk cargo terminal for cargo operations. ABYAN (IMO 9349667), RAMA 3 (IMO 9303754) and BASHT (IMO 9346536) are anchored in the area outside Zhuhai.

Iran-flagged container ships at Zhuhai, China, on July 8 (Credit: Marine Traffic)