At least six Iranian tankers are loitering near Chabahar, just inside the U.S. naval blockade line, while the U.S. Central Command has redirected 34 vessels, underscoring the blockade’s role in delaying Iranian oil exports. The cluster, located east of the Strait of Hormuz, signals Iran’s continued loading of oil on tankers that are attempting to exit the region. The U.S. blockade, imposed to curb Iranian crude flows, appears to be forcing ships to wait or reposition rather than complete immediate loading or ship‑to‑ship transfers. According to satellite imagery and maritime intelligence, Windward confirmed the presence of seven tankers—six very large crude carriers (VLCCs) and one Suezmax—operating without AIS transmission. The firm noted that the vessels remain in fixed positions, with no indication of loading or ship‑to‑ship transfer activity, supporting the assessment of sustained loitering rather than active operations. In the week to April 21, 34 energy tankers with Iranian links transited the area, as reported by Vortexa ’s Director of Maritime Risk & Intelligence, Claire Jungman. “The blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports continues,” CENTCOM said, adding that U.S. forces have redirected 34 vessels. Windward added that “the tanker cluster east of Hormuz near Chabahar remains stable, reinforcing the persistence of eastern positioning under enforcement pressure.” Jungman said the 160 million barrels of Iranian crude on water, including 130 million barrels already outside the U.S. blockade area, is sufficient to supply about 2.5 months of typical Chinese import needs and that more vessels are likely to trickle through the U.S. net. While the blockade is unlikely to curb Iranian crude supply to the market in the next two to three months, the continued staging of tankers near Chabahar could signal a strategic shift, prompting operators to adjust routing and logistics to mitigate potential delays.