Charlie Brown and Jemima Shelley

Iran War Shipping Update - May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026 | Charlie Brown and Jemima Shelley

Since the start of the Iran War on February 28, Iran’s “Ghost Fleet” continues active operations—loading cargo, transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and sailing east toward China—though the U.S. blockade may now be restricting exports. UANI tracking shows ongoing illicit maritime activity. The U.S. blockade targets vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports and those carrying sanctioned or contraband oil, but does not apply to all Iran-linked ships. U.S. forces focus primarily on large VLCC tankers rather than smaller carriers. On May 4, the U.S.