U.S. Blockade Strands 50 Iranian Oil Tankers in Persian Gulf

The U.S. blockade on Iranian oil exports has left at least 50 Iranian tankers stuck in the Persian Gulf, according to a recent update from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). The blockade, reinstated in mid-July, aims to halt Iran's oil exports and pressure the country in negotiations. As of early October, these tankers, loaded with crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), are anchored along Iran's coastline. A significant cluster of 16 tankers is near Kharg Island, Iran's primary oil export terminal, with additional vessels positioned east and south of the island.

Since the blockade's reinstatement on July 14, UANI has tracked 39 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, but none have successfully bypassed the blockade. Meanwhile, empty Iran-flagged tankers are loitering in the Indo-Pacific region instead of returning to Iranian ports due to the restrictions. Iran has publicly stated it will find ways to evade the blockade, but tanker-tracking services indicate a sharp decline in exports. Crude oil loadings dropped to 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) in August, and September saw zero loadings for the first time since the conflict began.