Iran Tanker Tracking

Economic pressure can compel Tehran to moderate its destructive behavior and end its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Crude and natural gas exports historically account for 25% of government revenues: it is therefore important to accurately track Iran’s oil exports to interpret if sanctions are effectively stopping the flow of revenue to the regime.

This can be difficult given the regime’s track-record of smuggling and sanctions evasion techniques and there is little consensus among oil tracking agencies about how much is getting through, and to where.

This variance mars the accuracy of media reports, but it also presents a serious challenge to those trying to get a handle on the trajectory of the Iranian economy, given its oil revenue dependency.

More importantly, a correct accounting of quantities and destinations will help focus limited resources to where they are really needed: which shippers, which vessels, which areas, which ports, which flags, which insurers.

UANI has therefore sought to address the information gap with a new comprehensive ship-tracking methodology.

Using Automatic Identification System (AIS), satellite imagery, vessel comparison and tanker classification, and cargo datasets to uncover all under-the-radar ship-to-ship (STS) transfers and exports of Iranian oil and gas condensates, we generate what we contend are the most accurate figures available.

This resource seeks to disrupt Iran’s attempts to generate profits from oil sales and further isolate the regime economically.

  • Exports Over Time
  • Shipping Analysis
  • September 2026
    Barrels Per Day (BPD)
September Total: 50,789
September 2026 Tanker Tracker
October 07, 2026 | Charlie Brown and Jemima Shelley

Introduction

The United States naval blockade continues to maintain a firm grip on Iran’s oil trade. During September 2026, the blockade successfully restricted illicit outflows, allowing only three small Handymax vessels—laden with Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and methanol—to depart. This severe curtailment of crude exports raises pressing questions regarding how much longer the Iranian regime can economically survive under such stringent pressure. Simultaneously, floating storage reserves in the Malaysian Eastern Outside Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage have experienced a drastic reduction. The continued enforcement of the blockade compounds economic strain on Tehran, systematically exhausting its secondary reserves in the Malaysian EOPL.
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