The United States reinstated its naval blockade of Iranian ports on July 14 following Iran's attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz starting July 7. This reignited tensions across the Persian Gulf, ultimately resulting in the apparent collapse of the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed June 17. The United States has since conducted a series of strikes against Iranian military and IRGC maritime assets, while Iran has continued to attack commercial shipping and Gulf States.
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U.S. Blockade and Sanctions
On July 14 at 4 p.m. ET, U.S. forces reimposed the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas while supporting compliant traffic in regional waters. As of July 29, U.S. forces have redirected 20 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 2 that didn't comply, and boarded 2 to ensure total compliance.
Houthi Blockade
On July 20, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabian ports. On July 22, the Houthis claimed they attacked two tankers laden with Saudi crude oil in the Red Sea. JMIC also reported that a tanker was hit by projectiles and was fighting a fire near the mouth of the Bab el Mandeb strait approximately 70nm off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Houthi threats and attacks against Saudi-linked shipping are already prompting some, but not all, tankers to reroute in the Red Sea. According to Windward, transits of the Bab el Mandeb have fallen by 22% since the Houthi blockade. The Houthis are reportedly considering charging most vessels to cross Bab el-Mandeb, with Chinese-flagged ships exempted under a separate safe-passage understanding already in place.
Status of the Port of Damietta
Two LNG vessels caught fire after being struck by a drone in Damietta Port, Egypt on July 29. The drone reportedly hit a US-owned Marshall Island-flagged floating storage and regasification vessel, ENERGOS WINTER (IMO 9256614) sparking a blaze that spread to a Greek-owned Bermuda-flagged LNG tanker, GASLOG SALEM (IMO 9638915). ENERGOS WINTER was abandoned by the crew, while the fire on GASLOG SALEM was extinguished by the crew. The source of the drone remains unclear as Egyptian authorities conduct an official inquiry.
Status of the Strait of Hormuz
Since the start of the Iran War, the International Maritime organization (IMO) has reported 62 maritime incidents involving commercial vessels have been reported across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.
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 29, JMIC has reported a total of 731 vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the date of the signing of the MoU.
Open transits of commercial vessels through the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz declined following the IRGC strikes on commercial shipping starting July 7 but have not ceased entirely. Since the strikes, the traffic has been dominated by Iranian- and Chinese-linked vessels transiting via the northern corridor.
Strait of Hormuz transits on July 30 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 66 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 80 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.
Tankers laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals are currently clustering in anchorages along the Iranian coastline due to the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. UANI has not tracked any tanker laden with Iranian crude oil that has departed the Gulf of Oman and avoided enforcement actions by U.S. forces since July 12, before the blockade was reinstated.
Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers
UANI has identified at least 48 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 30 (Credit: UANI)
Number of Iranian Loadings
Since the signing of the U.S.-Iran MoU on June 17, UANI has tracked at least 33 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, 13 of which originated from Kharg Island, Iran.
On July 30, a tanker listed on UANI’s Ghost Armada was observed loading approximately 710,000 barrels of Iranian crude at Kharg Island’s T-Jetty.
Tanker loading Iranian crude at Kharg Island on July 30 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)
Iran-flagged Tankers Globally
UANI has also monitored Iran-flagged tankers operating beyond the Persian Gulf. Since the signing of the MoU, 26 Iran-flagged tankers have reached the Singapore Strait bound for the EOPL anchorage off Johor, Malaysia.
There are 18 Iran-flagged tankers currently in the EOPL: HUMANITY (IMO 9180281), DREAM II (IMO 9356593), DUNE (IMO 9569712), STARLA (IMO 9569621), HILDA I (IMO 9357389), DAN (9357729), HELM (IMO 9357391), HALTI (IMO 9212890), HAPPINESS I (IMO 9212905), STREAM (IMO 9569633), DIAMOND II (IMO 9218478), DINO 1 (IMO 9569671), HEDY (IMO 9212888), SILVIA I (IMO 9172052), DORENA (IMO 9569669), SNOW (IMO 9569619) HERO II (IMO 9362073) and SONIA I (IMO 9357365). They have all previously passed the Singapore Strait and have since stopped broadcasting their location on AIS. All these Iranian tankers are expected to conduct STS transfers in the EOPL. Eleven of these STS transfers have been observed in satellite imagery. Two Iran-flagged tankers conducted STS transfers of Iranian crude on July 30 in the anchorage.
Iran-flagged tankers conducting STS transfers in the EOPL on July 30 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)
DORE (IMO 9357717), HERBY (IMO 9362059), SEVIN (IMO 9357353), FELICITY (IMO 9183934), HENNA (IMO 9212929), AMBER (IMO 9357406) and DIONA (IMO 9569695) have all departed from the EOPL in ballast after completing STS transfers. STARLA also left the EOPL empty, conducted another STS with the Iran-flagged tanker DEEP SEA (IMO 9218492) in the Malacca Strait, and has since returned to the EOPL laden with Iranian crude, bringing the total to eight Iran-flagged tankers that have departed the EOPL empty since the signing of the MoU, which has since collapsed.
These departing Iran-flagged tankers are now heading to anchorages across the Indo-Pacific rather than back to Iranian ports because of the U.S. blockade. DIONA was last observed loitering offshore Duqm, Oman in satellite imagery on July 23, while HERBY, SEVIN, AMBER, HENNA and FELICITY are currently anchored off Galle, Sri Lanka.
Iran-flagged tankers in ballast near Galle, Sri Lanka on July 30 (Credit: Marine Traffic)
Iran-flagged HUGE (IMO 9357183) has also departed the EOPL anchorage. This tanker had been loitering unladen in the EOPL anchorage for over two weeks after conducting an STS transfer of Iranian crude south of Hong Kong in the South China Sea on July 9. It is not most likely headed to the Galle anchorage to join the other Iran-flagged tankers in ballast.
On July 30, at least 52 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, and new constraints of the U.S. Blockade on Iranian ports, approximately 50 Iranian flagged cargo ships continue to operate openly across sea lanes, ports, and anchorages throughout the Indo-Pacific region, the Red Sea, the eastern Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.
Iran-flagged cargo vessels across the region on July 30 (Credit: Marine Traffic)
The Iranian-flagged container ship NORA (IMO 9259408) appeared to cross the U.S. Blockade line in the Gulf of Oman today and then turn around again. Earlier this month, NORA was in port Jebel Ali, UAE from July 18 to 22, and then anchored near Qeshm Island from July 22 to 29. On July 29, it began sailing east into the Gulf of Oman via Iranian waters with its destination listed as Mumbai, India, but after turning around today, the destination was changed to Bandar Abbas. It is possible that U.S. naval forces redirected this vessel.
Iranian flagged cargo ship in Gulf of Oman on July 30 (Credit Marine Traffic)
The laden bulk carrier BATIS (IMO 9465760) returned and anchored at the OPL anchorage near Karachi, Pakistan today. Yesterday it turned around while approaching the maritime boundary between Pakistan and Iran. BATIS will likely now loiter in the Karachi OPL due to the U.S. Blockade.
Iranian flagged cargo ship in the Karachi OPL on July 30 (Credit Marine Traffic)
The container ship FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322) entered the Bab al-Mandab strait, on its way to the Suez Canal, from Kandla, India. Its destination after the Suez Canal is not known. Meanwhile, the general cargo ship NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) is sailing south in the Red Sea, passing the vicinity of Yanbu. It previously departed a Russian port on the Black Sea and is en route to Mumbai where the Iranian container ships VELON 1 (IMO 9122473) and ENZO 2 (IMO 9236652) are currently anchored.
The container ship VIRA 1 (IMO 9088524) is sailing east in the Laccadive Sea. VIRA 1 is en route to Port Klang, Malaysia, after previously visiting the Russian Baltic, with an estimated arrival of August 6.
Iranian flagged cargo ship in the Laccadive Sea on July 30 (Credit Marine Traffic)
At Port Klang, the container ship SHIBA (IMO 9270646) completed cargo operations and returned to the anchorage, rejoining DAISY (IMO 9270684) and ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007). All three ships are sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Iran-flagged vessels at Port Klang on July 30 (Credit: Marine Traffic)
The container ships BASHT (IMO 9346536) and ALOR 2 (IMO 9228538) and the general cargo ship PARNIA (IMO 9167265) remained anchored in the Malaysian EOPL area. The bulk carrier BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978) remained moored in port at Sri Racha port, near Laem Chabang, Thailand. Meanwhile, the general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) is sailing north through the Java Sea toward the Singapore Strait and is reporting its next destination as Belawan, Indonesia, in Sumatra.
Iran-flagged vessels in Southeast Asia on July 30 (Credit: Marine Traffic)
At Zhuhai, the container ship RADIN (IMO 9820257) remains anchored just south of the Gaolan Island. RAYAN (IMO 9820245) is sailing from Shanghai to Zhuhai and is scheduled to arrive on August 2. The container ship ARTENOS (IMO 9283021) is sailing to Zhuhai after loitering in the Malaysian EOPL and is also due to arrive on August 2.
Five container ships are currently anchored at CJK anchorage off Shanghai, China. The container ship FLORA (IMO 9349576) is in port in Shanghai, but due to Chinese regulations, the AIS signal is not visible. China implemented data security laws that significantly restricted the export of certain geographic and transport data. Many domestic AIS shore stations stopped providing their data to foreign commercial AIS aggregators.
Three bulk cargo ships are currently at Dafeng, while two other bulk cargo ships are in transit to Dafeng.
In the Mediterranean Sea, the Iran-flagged general cargo ship ALVAN (IMO 9165798) remained anchored outside Benghazi, Libya, while AYSAN (IMO 9165803) continued to sail from Misrata to Port Said and the Suez Canal. Libya is under certain UN sanctions, and an arms embargo, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2819 (2026).
Iran-flagged vessels near Libya on July 30 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)
In the North Sea, the Iranian container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590) is approaching the Dover Strait, with its destination listed as Port Said, Egypt. BEHTA will likely transit the Dover Strait on July 31. According to the Equasis and TokyoMoU Port State Control databases, BEHTA is a “High Risk Ship, Priority I” ship for poor Flag State performance and compliance with safety regulations, as well as records of deficiencies on previous inspections. EU Directive 2025/811required Mandatory Ship Reporting of key safety information, including insurance certificates due to substandard ships that pose substantial risks to maritime safety and marine ecosystems. Notably, the Dover Strait is also a mandatory reporting area, and ships passing through the UK section may be required to provide proof of valid insurance when requested by UK authorities, even if they are not calling at a UK port.
Iran-flagged vessel in the Baltic Sea on July 30 (Credit: Marine Traffic)