Iran has managed to push loaded oil tankers through the US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. At least 26 Iran-linked ships, including 11 oil and gas tankers, successfully navigated past the blockade line by April 20-21, 2026, just days after US forces established the cordon on April 13.
Among the vessels that made it through were the Hero II, Hedy, Diona, and Sonia I, collectively carrying an estimated 3.8 to 5 million barrels of crude oil.
A blockade that leaks
The US naval blockade of Iranian ports kicked off on April 13, 2026, part of the broader escalation now referred to as the 2026 Iran conflict. The intent was straightforward: choke off Iran’s crude exports and apply maximum economic pressure.
Iranian crude exports cratered to approximately 260,000 barrels per day in May 2026, a six-year low. Iran was shipping well over a million barrels per day before the blockade began.
