Iran Shipping Update – August 4, 2026

The security situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains highly volatile. Following the collapse of the June 17 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the reinstatement of a U.S. blockade, Iran has targeted commercial shipping and Gulf States, while Tehran’s Yemeni Houthi partners threaten to expand the maritime conflict in the Red Sea.

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 August 4, U.S. forces have redirected 45 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. The Joint Maritime Information Center (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. 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 Strait of Hormuz

Since the start of the Iran War, the International Maritime organization (IMO) has reported 65 maritime incidents involving commercial vessels have been reported across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.

On August 3, the bulk carrier MINOAN PIONEER (IMO 9471630) was attacked by an unknown projectile off the Musandam Peninsula, while transiting the southern corridor in the Omani waters. The vessel’s engine room was struck, resulting in a complete blackout and a fire on board. 

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 August 1, JMIC has reported a total of 743 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 August 4 (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 50 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 August 4 (Credit: UANI)

On August 4, 13 laden tankers were observed loitering in the anchorage east of Kharg Island in satellite imagery. No tankers were observed loading from Kharg Island today.

Laden tankers in Kharg Island’s anchorage on August 4 (Credit ESA Copernicus)

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. 

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. All these Iranian tankers are expected to conduct STS transfers in the EOPL, and 16 of these STS transfers have been observed in satellite imagery.

There are 14 Iran-flagged tankers currently in the EOPL: HUMANITY (IMO 9180281), DREAM II (IMO 9356593), STARLA (IMO 9569621), HILDA I (IMO 9357389), DAN (9357729), HELM (IMO 9357391), HALTI (IMO 9212890), HAPPINESS I (IMO 9212905), STREAM (IMO 9569633), HEDY (IMO 9212888), SILVIA I (IMO 9172052), DORENA (IMO 9569669), SNOW (IMO 9569619) and HERO II (IMO 9362073). They have all previously passed the Singapore Strait and have since stopped broadcasting their location on AIS.

DUNE (IMO 9569712), DEEP SEA (IMO 9218492), DIAMOND II (IMO 9218478), DINO 1 (IMO 9569671), SONIA I (IMO 9357365), DORE (IMO 9357717), HERBY (IMO 9362059), SEVIN (IMO 9357353), FELICITY (IMO 9183934), HENNA (IMO 9212929), AMBER (IMO 9357406) and DIONA (IMO 9569695) are the Iran-flagged tankers that have 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 in the Malacca Strait, and has since returned to the EOPL laden with Iranian crude, bringing the total to twelve Iran-flagged tankers that have departed the EOPL empty since the signing of the MoU, which has since collapsed.

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 most likely headed to the Galle anchorage to join the other Iran-flagged tankers in ballast.

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 30, while HERBY, SEVIN, AMBER, HENNA, FELICITY, HUGE and DORE are currently anchored off Galle, Sri Lanka. 

Iran-flagged tankers in ballast near Galle, Sri Lanka on August 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

On August 4, 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 August 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The laden bulk carrier BATIS (IMO 9465760) remained anchored at the OPL anchorage near Karachi, Pakistan today. BATIS will likely now loiter in the Karachi OPL, after previously turning around in the Gulf of Oman, due to the U.S. Blockade. 

Just to the south, at the Indian Gulf of Kutch, the container ship VELON 1 (IMO 9122473) arrived from Mumbai and anchored near Kandla Port. ARTMAN (IMO 9405930) and ARTAM (IMO 9284154) are each anchored outside the entrance of the Gulf of Kutch. Meanwhile, SHAMIN (IMO 9270658) is enroute to Kandla, scheduled to arrive on August 5.

At Mumbai, the container ships ENZO 2 (IMO 9236652) and ZYRA (IMO 9237084) are both in port at the container terminal. Both ships are broadcasting on AIS under different flags, although listed in the official IMO GISIS database as registered under the Iranian flag. The general cargo ship NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) is crossing the Arabian Sea to Mumbai after previously departing a Russian port on the Black Sea. Al three ships are sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Near Suez Canal, the container ship FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322) approached the southern entrance to the Suez Canal and loitered. It is currently sailing from Kandla, India, but the destination after the Suez Canal is not known. Meanwhile AYSAN (IMO 9165803) is anchored at Port Said at the north end of the Suez Canal after departing Misrata, Libya

The container ships VIRA 1 (IMO 9088524) transited the Six-Degree Channel and entered the Malacca Strait. It is en route to the EOPL, after previously visiting the Russian Baltic, with an estimated arrival of August 6. It will likely visit Port Klang after the EOPL.

At Port Klang, Malaysia, the container ship SHIBA (IMO 9270646), DAISY (IMO 9270684) and ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007) remain in the anchorage area. The general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) arrived from Belawan, Indonesia, and immediately pulled into Port Klang. The terminal operator is Westports Holdings and the ship’s agent is Octrans Sdn Bhd. All four ships are sanctioned by U.S. OFAC.

Iran-flagged cargo vessels at Port Klang on August 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The container ship RAMA 3 (IMO 9303754) departed the EOPL and transited the Singapore Strait westbound. Its destination in Kandla, India with an estimated arrival of August 13. The container ships BASHT (IMO 9346536) and HAMOUNA (IMO 9820271) and the general cargo ship PARNIA (IMO 9167265) remained anchored in the Malaysian EOPL area. The bulk cargo ship BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978) is loitering north of the EOPL.

Iran-flagged cargo vessels in the Singapore Strait and EOPL on August 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At Zhuhai, the container ship FLORA (IMO 9349576) remained in port at the container terminal, while RAYAN (IMO 9820245), RADIN (IMO 9820257) and ARTENOS (IMO 9283021) remained anchored just south of the Gaolan Island. 

Iran-flagged cargo vessels at Zhuhai, China on August 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At CJK anchorage off Shanghai, China, following the departure ARZIN (IMO 9284142) yesterday, three more container ships departed today: ABYAN (IMO 9349667), BARZIN (IMO 9820269) and KASHAN (IMO 9270696). All three are sailing south, but none are listing their destination on AIS. It is possible that some will sail to Zhuhai or the Malaysian EOPL. Only the container ship ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) remains anchored at CJK.

Iran-flagged cargo vessels near Shanghai, China on August 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Four Iranian-flagged bulk cargo ships are in ports in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf. All are reporting laden and presumably delivering their cargos to Chinese bulk terminals. The bulk cargo ship PARISAN (IMO 9465851) departed Dafeng in ballast condition and is sailing to Songkhla, Thailand, with an estimated arrival of August 15.

In the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Iran-flagged general cargo ship ALVAN (IMO 9165798) remained anchored outside Benghazi, Libya.  Libya is under certain UN sanctions, and an arms embargo, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2819 (2026). The container ship SHABDIS (IMO 9349588) continues to loiter about 275 km north of Benghazi, after previously departing Port Said, and it is possible that SHABDIS is collecting intelligence on transiting U.S. and European naval forces in the Mediterranean.