Iran has blacklisted 45 tankers over what its newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) describes as violations of its rules for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, escalating pressure on commercial shipping through one of the world’s most strategically important waterways. According to Reuters, the vessels face potential fines, detention or cargo confiscation, although Iranian authorities have not specified which individual transit rules the listed ships allegedly violated. The list includes vessels connected to major shipping companies such as ADNOC Logistics & Shipping, Navig8 Tankers, Saudi Arabia’s Bahri, Stolt Tankers, Klaveness and South Korea’s Sinokor.
The warning extends beyond the 45 blacklisted vessels. Iran has also warned that ships conducting ship-to-ship transfers or transshipment operations involving listed vessels could themselves be added to the blacklist and face similar penalties. For cargo owners, charterers and vessel operators, the development adds another layer of uncertainty to an already highly constrained maritime corridor. Reuters reports that the U.S. Navy has been working to maintain oil flows through the strait, while the waterway previously handled around 20% of global daily crude oil and LNG shipping.
The latest move puts vessel compliance, cargo security and route planning even further into focus for companies operating around the Persian Gulf. The situation also comes as shipping traffic through Hormuz remains heavily disrupted by the wider regional conflict and security risks. With vessels now facing potential financial and operational consequences under Iran’s stated rules, shipowners and cargo interests must navigate not only physical maritime risks but also an increasingly complex regulatory environment around the Strait.