Iran Shipping Update – July 13, 2026

The United States today reinstated its naval blockade of Iranian ports, marking a likely end to the brief détente established under the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed June 17. The move follows Iran's attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz starting July 7, which reignited tensions across the Persian Gulf, ultimately collapsing the agreement's key confidence-building measures. The United States has since conducted a series of strikes against Iranian military and IRGC maritime assets.

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

U.S. Blockade 

On July 13, President Trump declared that the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports has been reinstated. Starting on July 14 at 4 p.m. ET, U.S. forces will impose the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas while supporting compliant traffic in regional waters. The measure follows the initial blockade from April 13 to June 18, which redirected more than 140 compliant vessels, disabled nine non-compliant ships, and allowed over 50 humanitarian-support vessels to pass.

In addition to enforcing the blockade on Iranian ports, all Iranian vessels and vessels suspected of carrying contraband, are subject to belligerent right to visit and search. These vessels, regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search, and seizure. Contraband items are subject to capture at any place beyond neutral territory, if their destination is the territory belonging to, or occupied by, Iran. Contraband is defined as goods that are destined for an enemy and that may be susceptible to use in armed conflict.

U.S. CENTCOM update on July 13 (Credit: US CENTCOM/X)

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

Since the start of the Iran War, the International Maritime organization (IMO) has reported 53 maritime incidents involving commercial vessels have been reported across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.

On July 12, the Cyprus-flagged containership GFS GALAXY (IMO 9401271) was attacked by the IRGC while transiting the Omani waters of the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel and embark a lifeboat. In response, U.S. forces carried out a new wave of offensive strikes, hitting dozens of targets with precision munitions, including Iranian air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats, using fighter aircraft, naval vessels, and one-way attack aerial and sea drones for the first time. 

U.S. CENTCOM update on July 13 (Credit: US CENTCOM/X)

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 11, JMIC has reported a total of 629 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 13 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 63 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 77 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $6 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 12, at least three tankers transited the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian crude oil, transporting a combined volume exceeding 4 million barrels of oil. 

Tankers laden with Iranian oil departing the Gulf of Oman on July 12  (Credit: ESA Copernicus & Marine Traffic)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers

UANI has identified at least 38 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 13 (Credit: UANI)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the signing of the U.S.-Iran MoU on June 17, UANI has tracked at least 24 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, 10 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, 18 Iran-flagged tankers have reached the Singapore Strait bound for the Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage off Johor, Malaysia. On July 12, Iran-flagged tankers HAPPINESS I and (IMO 9212905) and STREAM (IMO 9569633) transited the Singapore Strait, reached the EOPL and turned off their AIS signal.

Iran flagged tankers transiting the Singapore Strait on July 12 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

HAPPINESS I and STREAM joins 13 other Iran-flagged tankers already in the EOPL: HERBY (IMO 9362059), 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 four already observed in satellite imagery. Today, FELICITY was observed in satellite imagery conducting an STS transfer with another tanker in the EOPL.

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 13, 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. 

Iran-flagged vessels across the Indo-Pacific on July 11 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Twenty-three cargo ships are headed to or already at Chinese ports.

The container ships GOLBAN (IMO 9283033) and ARTAM (IMO 9284154) are currently in the Gulf of Oman returning to Iran from Indian ports of Kandla and Mumbai. If the newly announced U.S. blockade is immediately enforced, these two vessels might be the very first Iranian vessels to be affected and possibly interdicted if they try to breach the blockade.

The cargo ships ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007), ARTMAN (IMO 9405930), ARTENOS (IMO 9283021), ARIES (IMO 9369722) and RADIN (IMO 9820257) are all sailing south in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of India. ARTMAN is headed to Kandla, India. ARTABAZ is heading to Port Klang, Malaysia.  ARTENOS, AERIS and RADIN are heading to ports in China. 

The container ship SHABDIS (IMO 9349588) is anchored in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, while ENZO 2 (IMO 9236652) is passing south of Galle, Sri Lanka back to Iran.

The cargo ships ZYRA (IMO 9237084), ARTIN (IMO 9305221) and KASHAN (IMO 9270696) are sailing east in the Bay of Bengal toward the Strait of Malacca on their way to ports in China.

In the Malacca Strait, the Bulk Carrier BATIS (IMO 9465760) is sailing north, approaching Aceh, on its way back to Iran, while the container ship DARYABAR (IMO 9284142) sails south toward the Singapore Strait, approaching the One Fathom Bank and the beginning of the Traffic Separation Scheme.

The container ships DAISY (IMO 9270684), SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) and SHIBA (IMO 9270646) are anchored outside of Port Klang and have been joined by the general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786), which most likely visited Belewan, Indonesia, although it was not detected by AIS for several days.

The container ship FLORA (IMO 9349576) is anchored in the Malaysian EOPL anchorage with its destination listed as Zhuhai.

The bulk cargo ship PARSHAD (IMO 9387786) was sailing northward to the Gulf of Thailand and Thai port of Ko Sichancg, but it made a U-turn and now drifting about 35 km offshore of Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. The bulk carrier BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978) entered the Gulf of Thailand from the north and is sailing to Songkhla, Thailand, with estimated arrival of July 18. Notably, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard are currently in Songkhla for the bilateral naval engagement, Exercise CARAT Thailand, with the Royal Thai Navy.

The container ships PARNIA (IMO 9167265) and BASHT (IMO 9346536) are sailing toward the Singapore Strait, on their return to Iran. They may stop and loiter in the Malaysian EOPL due to the U.S. blockade being reinstated.

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 southern Palawan after passing the Balabac Strait. ANDIA is reporting that it has Restricted Maneuverability.

The bulk carrier PARISAN (IMO 9465851), which is reporting its destination as Dafeng, China, on the coast of the Yellow Sea, is instead sailing toward Hainan Island in the South China Sea.  

The container ship ABYAN (IMO 9349667) remains anchored off Zhuhai, China.

The container ships BARZIN (IMO 9820269), RAYEN (IMO 9820245), ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) and RAMA 3 (IMO 9303754) sailed north through the Taiwan strait toward the East China Sea and Shanghai. The bulk carrier GANJ (IMO 9305219) is approaching the Taiwan Strait today, and the GOLAFRUZ (IMO 9323833) is sailing the eastern side of Taiwan.  

The container ship HAMOUNA (IMO 9820271) began sailing south again and is still listing CJK anchorage near Shanghai as its destination.

In the western Indian Ocean, the general cargo ships NESHAT (IMO 9167277) and GOLSAN (IMO 9165815) both continue sailing south to Mombasa, Kenya. The bulk carrier VICTORIA 1 (IMO 9109550) remains at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The container ship FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322), which departed Novorossiysk, Russia, and then visited Misrata, Libya, for unknown operations, transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and entered the Gulf of Aden sailing east to India.

The cargo ships ALVAN (IMO 9165798) and NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) transited the Suez Canal north into the Mediterranean. NYRA 2 is now reporting Turkey as its next destination. However, based on typical Iran-flagged cargo patterns, these vessels may also proceed to additional destinations in Russia or Libya.

The container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590) is sailing west, offshore of the Libyan coast, to its destination as Bronka Port in the Russian Baltic.

The general cargo ship AYSAN (IMO 9165803) is about to arrive at Misrata, Libya. Libya remains under certain UN sanctions, and an arms embargo, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2819 (2026),