Archive · 6 Oct 2026
US Blockade Leaves Dozens of Iranian Oil Tankers Waiting
The United States has blockaded Iran, and many ships carrying Iranian oil are waiting instead of sailing away.
A group called United Against Nuclear Iran says at least 50 loaded tankers are backed up near Iran.
Other Iran-flagged ships are waiting near Sri Lanka and Oman.
Many of the ships are carrying crude oil, while some have other fuel products.
UANI said no tankers were seen loading at Kharg Island on Monday.
Bloomberg’s early tracking estimates showed that no crude was loaded onto tankers in September.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran would have no oil on the water that week for the first time in history.
The US says the blockade is meant to put economic pressure on Iran.
At least 50 tankers carrying Iranian oil remained backed up near Iran, according to United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI).
The vessels were mostly carrying crude, along with petroleum products and liquefied petroleum gas.
UANI said 20 Iran-flagged vessels were off Sri Lanka and one was off Oman.
At least 11 laden tankers were anchored east of Kharg Island, with five more farther south; UANI reported no tankers loading there on Monday.
Preliminary Bloomberg vessel-tracking estimates showed no crude loaded onto tankers in September, while a US military tally said 130 vessels had been redirected.
- Who
- Iranian oil tankers; the US blockade is being enforced by US forces.
- What
- Dozens of tankers carrying Iranian oil are backed up or waiting, and September crude-oil tanker loadings were estimated at zero.
- When
- UANI's shipping update was dated Oct. 5; Bloomberg's estimates concerned September. The year is not specified.
- Where
- Near Iran, including around Kharg Island, and at anchorages off Sri Lanka and Oman.
- Why
- The US blockade aims to increase economic pressure on Tehran and force its capitulation.
- Tankers backed up near Iran
- At least 50, according to UANI
- Iran-flagged vessels off Sri Lanka
- 20
- Iran-flagged vessels off Oman
- 1
- Tankers east of Kharg Island
- At least 11 laden tankers; another five were anchored farther south
- September crude loadings
- Zero, according to preliminary Bloomberg vessel-tracking estimates
- Redirected vessels
- 130, according to a US military tally