Iran Shipping Update – July 10, 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. The United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran have since exchanged further strikes, with U.S. forces continuing to target military sites while Iran has targeted U.S. military bases across the Gulf.

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 8, JMIC has reported a total of 596 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 10 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 59 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 72 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $5.5 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 10, at least four tankers transited the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian crude oil, transporting a combined volume exceeding 5 million barrels of oil. The dotted lines on the map below indicate either that the vessels are manipulating their AIS signals, or that there is GPS jamming in the area, which has been a significant feature of the recent conflict.

Tankers laden with Iranian oil departing the Gulf of Oman on July 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers

UANI has identified at least 34 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 10 (Credit: UANI)

At least 10 tankers that were previously in the Kharg anchorage have departed the Gulf of Oman since the lifting of the U.S. blockade. As of July 10, at least 21 tankers were in the anchorage east of Kharg Island, 10 of which are laden. Notably, the three tankers loading Iranian crude on July 7, DAN (IMO 9357729), HUMANITY (IMO 9180281) and DUNE (IMO 9569712), have since left and are most likely making their way out of the Persian Gulf. No tankers were observed loading in satellite imagery of Kharg Island today.

Tankers in the Kharg anchorage on July 10 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the signing of the U.S.-Iran MoU on June 17, UANI has tracked at least 23 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, 16 Iran-flagged tankers have reached the Singapore Strait bound for the Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage off Johor, Malaysia. On July 10, Iran-flagged HERBY (IMO 9362059) transited the Singapore Strait, reached the EOPL and turned off its AIS signal.

Iran flagged tanker transiting the Singapore Strait on July 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)
 

HERBY joins 12 other Iran-flagged tankers already 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), DORENA (IMO 9569669), SNOW (IMO 9569619) 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 are expected to conduct STS transfers in the EOPL, with three already observed in satellite imagery.

Meanwhile, Iran-flagged tankers AMBER (IMO 9357406), STARLA (IMO 9569621) and DIONA (IMO 9569695) have departed the EOPL, reporting ballast condition on AIS after completing ship-to-Ship (STS) transfers in the anchorage, and are now most likely returning to Iran. They are the first three Iran-flagged tankers that have departed the EOPL reporting empty since the lifting of the U.S. blockade.

On July 10, at least 51 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 50 Iranian flagged cargo ships continue to operate openly across sea lanes, ports, and anchorages throughout the Indo-Pacific region, the Red Sea and the eastern Mediterranean. Twenty-two cargo ships are headed to or already at Chinese ports.

Iran-flagged vessels across the Indo-Pacific on July 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Twenty-one Iran flagged cargo ships are headed to or already at Chinese ports. 

The bulk carriers BASKAR (IMO 9405942) and HAMGAM (IMO 9226956), both in ballast condition, have entered Iranian waters, returning to Iran. The container ships NORA (IMO 9259408) and AZARGOUN (IMO 9283019), are both in the Arabian Sea, sailing back to Iran from Zhuhai, China.

The container ship ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007) and the bulk carrier ARTMAN (IMO 9405930) are about to depart Iranian waters into the Gulf of Oman and then Arabian Sea. ARTABAZ is heading to Port Klang, Malaysia and ARTMAN is headed to Kandla, India.

The container ships ARTENOS (IMO 9283021) and RADIN (IMO 9820257) are in the Gulf of Oman, en route to Zhuhai, China. ARIES (IMO 9369722), KASHAN (IMO 9270696) and ARTIN (IMO 9305221) are all in the Indian Ocean, also heading to ports in China.

The general cargo ship AYSAN (IMO 9165803) is in the Eastern Mediterranean, sailing to Benghazi, Libya, with an estimated arrival of July 11. In accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2819 (2026), Libya remains under certain UN sanctions, and an arms embargo.

The container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590) has transited the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean and is now reporting its destination as Bronka Port in the Russian Baltic.

The cargo ships ALVAN (IMO 9165798) and NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) continue to sail north in the Red Sea, to the Suez Canal. It is possible that they will also sail to further destinations in Libya or Russia.

The container ship FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322), which departed Novorossiysk, Russia, and then visited Misrata, Libya, for unknown operations, completed its transit of the Suez Canal, and is now in the Red Sea heading south.

General Cargo ships NESHAT (IMO 9167277) and GOLSAN (IMO 9165815) are both sailing the Arabian Sea towards Mombasa, Kenya, although NESHAT has stopped and begun drifting for unknown reasons. The bulk carrier VICTORIA 1 (IMO 9109550) remains at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The container ship GOLBON (IMO 9283033) pulled into the port of Kandla, India, for cargo operations. The container ship ARTAM (IMO 9284154) arrived and anchored outside Mumbai.

The container ship SHABDIS (IMO 9349588) is sailing west in the Bay of Bengal to Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, with an estimated arrival of July 12.

Two cargo vessels are sailing south in the Malacca Strait toward the Singapore Strait. The container ship ARZIN (IMO 9284142) is sailing to Zhuhai, China and the bulk cargo ship PARSHAD (IMO 9387786) is sailing to Laem Chabang, Thailand.

The general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) which had been sailing north in the Malacca Strait to the port of Belawan, Indonesia, is no longer broadcasting on AIS, but is presumed to be in port.

The container ships DAISY (IMO 9270684), SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) and SHIBA (IMO 9270646) are anchored outside of Port Klang. The container ship ZYRA (IMO 9237084), which is currently transiting 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. 

The bulk carriers DELNAVAZ (IMO 9387803) and AMINA (IMO 9305192) transited the Singapore Strait eastbound into the South China Sea. Both are reporting laden status. AMINA is sailing to Luhuashan, China and DELNAVAZ is sailing to Lanshan, China

The container ship FLORA (IMO 9349576) is anchored in the Malaysian EOPL anchorage with its destination listed as Zhuhai and an estimated arrival of July 18.

The bulk cargo ship ANDIA (IMO 9193197) which is headed to Zhoushan Port, near Ningbo China, is taking an unusual route closer to the coast of Sarawak, Malaysia. ANDIA is reporting that it has Restricted Maneuverability.

The bulk carrier BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978) is sailing south of Hainan Island, to its destination, Songkhla, Thailand, with estimated arrival of July 15. Notably, the US Navy and US Coast Guard are currently in Songkhla for the bilateral naval engagement, Exercise CARAT Thailand, with the Royal Thai Navy.

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” (NUC) on AIS. RAYEN has been drifting east and reporting NUC, since July 5, and is about 190km west of Northern Luzon, inside the Philippines EEZ. The AIS signal track is also suggestive of possible dark rendezvous with another ship that is not broadcasting on AIS.

Iran-flagged container ship drifting in South China Sea on July 10 (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 southwest of the Taiwan Strait, most likely due to Super Typhoon Bavi that will pass north of Taiwan.

Iran-flagged container ship near the Taiwan Strait, on July 9 to 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

The container ship BASHT (IMO 9346536) remains in port at the Zhuhai container terminal.  RAMA 3 (IMO 9303754) completed cargo operations in Zuhai, China and returned to the anchorage, where ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) and ABYAN (IMO 9349667) remain anchored. Four other Iranian-flagged vessels that have departed Iran are reporting Zhuhai as their destination: FLORA (IMO 9349576), KASHAN (IMO 9270696), RADIN (IMO 9820257), and ARTENOS (IMO 9283021).

Iran-flagged container ships at Zhuhai, China, on July 9 (Credit: Marine Traffic)