US blockade pushes Iranian tankers toward Asian waters: UANI

26/08/2026

US blockade pushes Iranian tankers toward Asian waters: UANI

TAMPA, Aug 26: The US naval blockade is forcing Iranian-flagged oil tankers to stay away from Iranian ports, with at least 20 empty vessels now anchored off Sri Lanka after completing ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian crude in Southeast Asia, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) said Tuesday.

According to UANI, the tankers have remained away from Iranian ports amid the blockade, while several vessels moved away from the Galle anchorage on August 23, possibly due to increased regulatory or enforcement pressure following recent media reports about their presence.

The report said other Iranian-flagged tankers had reached the Singapore Strait, where 26 vessels were being tracked. They are expected to conduct further ship-to-ship transfers at an anchorage off Malaysia, UANI said.