US Blockades Iran Oil, Sanctions Shadow Fleet

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani's network, described as a central hub for moving Iranian and Russian petroleum via a fleet of nearly 40 tankers and front companies across the UAE, India, and Marshall Islands. Specific vessels targeted include the Mozambique-flagged LPG carrier AURA (IMO 9274563), which transported over three million barrels of Iranian LPG, and several tankers managed by India-based Fleet Tanqo Private Limited, which carried over 20 cargoes of Russian petroleum products in 2025.

The Pentagon is enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports, turning back at least nine vessels, effectively stopping Iran's seaborne trade and significantly slowing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as shipowners reassess risk. This coordinated escalation marks a definitive shift from market stabilization back to aggressive enforcement, narrowing the operational margin for Iran-linked oil flows.