Iran Shipping Update – November 4, 2026

The maritime security environment across the region remains highly volatile. Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt maritime traffic, while Iran-backed Houthi threats and attacks around the Bab el-Mandeb pose a renewed risk to shipping through the Red Sea. Meanwhile, the U.S. maritime blockade on Iranian ports continues to severely constrain the regime’s oil exports.

For UANI’s recommendations for U.S. sanctions on Iran following “Economic D-Day,” read here.

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

Since the start of the Iran War, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has confirmed 128 maritime incidents involving commercial vessels across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. According to the IMO, these incidents have resulted in 24 seafarer deaths.

In the past months, an increasing number of vessels have transited the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz bidirectionally without broadcasting AIS location data, with many of these movements facilitated by U.S. forces. Today, multiple vessels were spotted transiting the southern corridor of Strait of Hormuz in satellite imagery.

U.S.-facilitated transits through the Strait of Hormuz surged to 39.7 vessels per day, with 119 transits recorded during the closing 72-hour period of October (October 29–31). The full monthly total for October is 956 transits across 31 days at 30.8 per day, pushing the cumulative campaign total to 3,089 transits at an overall average of 23.1 per day across 134 monitored days.

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers Departing the Gulf of Oman

Tankers laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals are currently clustering in anchorages along the Iranian coastline due to the reinstatement of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. As of October 31, U.S. forces have redirected 144 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled four that didn’t comply, and boarded two to ensure total compliance.

Since the blockade resumed, approximately 11 small tankers carrying Iranian LPG have successfully passed the blockade line. However, UANI has not tracked any tanker laden with Iranian crude oil that has successfully 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 56 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 November 4 (Credit: UANI)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the U.S. reinstated the maritime blockade on July 14, UANI has tracked at least 56 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, only eight of which originated from Kharg Island, Iran. On November 4, satellite imagery revealed a small tanker loading Iranian LPG from Assaluyeh Port, Iran, while an STS transfer took place approximately 15 km to the west. 

Tanker activity at Assaluyeh Port, Iran on November 4 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

Iran-Linked Tankers Globally

UANI has also monitored Iran-flagged tankers operating beyond the Persian Gulf, particularly in the waters near Malaysia. At least 22 tankers listed on UANI's Ghost Armada were anchored or loitering north of the EOPL anchorage with their AIS signals active. These tankers most likely departed the anchorage due to the purported recent enforcement actions of the Malaysian maritime authorities. Meanwhile, about 22 tankers listed on UANI’s Ghost Armada remain loitering in the EOPL anchorage, demonstrating that Ghost Fleet tankers continue to operate with impunity across Southeast Asia's sea lanes.

Ghost Armada tankers near Malaysia on November 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iran-Flagged Cargo Ships Globally

Despite ongoing pressure of 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, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, North Sea, and Baltic Sea.

Iran-flagged cargo vessels across the region on November 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Russian Pacific, the Iranian-flagged container ship AYSAN IMO 9165803) departed Vladivostok Port, Russia. This was the first Iranian cargo ship to openly visit Vladivostok since the start of the war. AYSAN is now heading back to Shanghai, with an estimated arrival on November 8, and will likely transit the Tsushima Strait between Korea and Japan, mirroring its inbound route.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near Vladivostok on November 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iran-flagged cargo ship near Vladivostok on November 4 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

In the Gulf of Finland, the container ship ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) pulled into Bronka Port, near St. Petersburg, Russia, for cargo ops. It previously departed Port Klang, Malaysia, on October 8 before transiting the Suez Canal on October 21.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near St Petersburg on November 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the North Sea, the container ship NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) continued sailing toward the Danish Straits, heading to St Petersburg, Russia, from Mumbai, with an estimated arrival of November 10. EU Directive 2025/811 requires Mandatory Ship Reporting of key safety information, including insurance certificates due to substandard ships that pose substantial risks to maritime safety and marine ecosystems.

Iran-flagged cargo ship in the North Sea on November 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At Benghazi, Libya, the container ship BASHT (IMO 9346536) remained in port. Its previous port visits were to Zhuhai and then Port Klang, continuing a pattern of Iranian cargo ships connecting these ports.

In both Turkish and Greek waters, the general cargo ship ALVAN (IMO 9165798) has been loitering in the vicinity of Tenedos Island, near the entrance to the Turkish Straits, since October 23. The vessel remains likely to transit the Turkish Straits toward a Russian port, though its departure is likely delayed awaiting more favorable security conditions amid ongoing drone strike risks in the Black Sea.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near the Turkish Straits on November 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Red Sea, the Iranian-flagged container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590) continued sailing north toward Suez after transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait yesterday. Its estimated arrival at Suez is November 6. BEHTA is sailing from Shanghai to Suez and will likely then sail onward to a Russian port. The container vessel FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322)continued sailing in the Arabian Sea toward Kandla, India, after briefly stopping and drifting yesterday. FLEXI 2's estimated arrival at Kandla is November 8.

Iran-flagged cargo ships near the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on November 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At Mumbai, the container chip ENZO 2 (IMO 9236652) remained anchored offshore, after briefly entering Mumbai harbour area for unknown reasons, yesterday.

At the Maldives, the Iranian-flagged container ship ARTAM (IMO 9284154) remained anchored in the northernmost atoll, where it has been loitering since October 9.

Iran-flagged cargo ship at the Maldives on November 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

The container ship SHIBA (IMO 9270646) arrived in the vicinity of Chennai, India, after transiting from Port Klang. Upon arrival, the vessel executed a turnaround, drifted temporarily, and subsequently headed back toward international waters in the Bay of Bengal. It is possible that the commercial port, PSA Chennai, denied entry to this OFAC-sanctioned vessel.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near Chennai on November 4 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Malacca Strait, ALOR 2 (IMO 9228538) remained anchored near Port Klang, Malaysia.

At the Malaysian EOPL, 20 Iranian-flagged cargo ships were anchored in the anchorage: 

AMINA (IMO 9305192), ANDIA (IMO 9193197), ARDAVAN (IMO 9465863), ARIES (IMO 9369722), ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007), ARTIN (IMO 9305221), ARZIN (IMO 9284142), BAHJAT (IMO 9405954), BARZIN (IMO 9820269), BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978), DARYABAR (IMO 9369710), GANJ (IMO 9305219), GOLAFRUZ (IMO 9323833), KASHAN (IMO 9270696), PARISAN (IMO 9465851), PARNIA (IMO 9167265), RADIN (IMO 9820257), RAYEN (IMO 9820245), VELON 1 (IMO 9122473), and NADIA (IMO 9122461). Two vessels arrived at the EOPL today: VELON 1 (IMO 9088536) transited the Singapore Strait eastbound following a transit from Kandla, India, while NADIA (IMO 9213820) transited the strait after departing Port Klang, despite listing Jakarta as its destination with an estimated arrival of November 6. Most of these vessels will likely remain in the EOPL while the U.S. blockade is in force, receiving regular logistics support from Malaysian service providers, despite the risk of secondary sanctions from OFAC.

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

The container ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) continued to sail northwest in the Java Sea on its way to Port Klang, with an estimated arrival of November 6. This vessel may stop in the EOPL.

At Zhuhai, the container ship ABYAN (IMO 9349667) shifted its position in the Zhuhai anchorage. TAVA 4 (IMO 9292151) is enroute from Shanghai to Zhuhai via the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, with an estimated arrival of November 6.

At Shanghai, the container ship FLORA (IMO 9349576) remained anchored at the CJK anchorage.