On the first full day of the US-declared blockade, ship-tracking data shows that there is little traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Similarly, shipping through the vital waterway of the Strait of Hormuz remains severely curtailed, with only a few tankers and bulk carriers passing through in the last day.
Analysts at marine consultants Windward describe the transit activity as “constrained and uneven.” One of the vessels that managed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz was the Chinese-owned oil tanker Rich Starry, which had been sanctioned by the United States in 2023 due to its ties to Iran.
Another sanctioned tanker, the Elpis, also passed through the strait but then remained almost stationary in the Gulf of Oman. The reasons for this sudden stop are unclear. The Elpis was sanctioned by the US in 2025 for its involvement in transporting Iranian petroleum as part of Iran’s shadow fleet.
Meanwhile, questions loom about how the US naval blockade will be enforced. Windward suggests that enforcing the blockade on outbound traffic may be more straightforward, but inbound vessels and those operating under deceptive conditions could present more challenges.
Bjorn Hojgaard, CEO of Anglo-Eastern, warns against interpreting the blockade as a physical interdiction at the Strait itself. He emphasizes that ships that have previously traded through the strait may face intervention later, potentially anywhere in the world.
Marine consultant Erik Bethel describes the enforcement of the blockade as “messy.” Satellite imagery shows around 20 vessels with their transponders turned off near the Iranian coast, particularly close to Kharg Island and the port of Assaluyeh.
The situation in the region remains tense as the impact of the US blockade on Iranian maritime activities unfolds.
