Iranian Tankers Alter Course to Karachi Amid US Naval Blockade

Two Iranian tankers, the Rani and the Amil, have recently changed their destination signals to Karachi, a move primarily aimed at evading a renewed US naval blockade. Despite this signal change, it is unlikely that the tankers will actually unload their cargo in Pakistan due to the risk of violating US sanctions. Historically, Iranian tankers have parked near Karachi during previous blockades, suggesting that the vessels may simply be seeking a safe location to wait out the current geopolitical tensions. Meanwhile, other Iranian tankers continue to operate in different regions, particularly off the eastern coast of Malaysia, where ship-to-ship transfers to China are common.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 15, 2026, 21:21 IST

Iranian Tankers Change Destination Signals

Two tankers carrying Iranian crude oil have recently adjusted their destination signals to Karachi, a strategic maneuver primarily aimed at evading a renewed US naval blockade rather than actually delivering oil to Pakistan. According to ship tracking data from Bloomberg, the vessels Rani and Amil, which together hold approximately 1 million barrels of crude, switched their course signals to Karachi on Tuesday. At that moment, both ships were already outside the Persian Gulf, coinciding with Washington's decision to reestablish its naval blockade targeting Iranian shipping.

Unlikely Delivery to Pakistan

Despite the change in signals, it is improbable that either tanker will actually discharge its cargo in Pakistan. Doing so would expose the country to the risk of breaching US sanctions. Data from intelligence firm Kpler indicates that Pakistan has not imported any Iranian crude in over a decade, making a genuine delivery there highly unlikely. It appears more plausible that the vessels, one a suezmax and the other a medium-range tanker, are seeking a location to anchor or possibly transfer their cargo to other ships once they reach Pakistani waters.

Historical Context of Tanker Movements

This situation is not unprecedented; Iranian oil tankers have previously anchored near Karachi. During earlier phases of the US blockade, several empty tankers linked to Iran remained in the same vicinity, positioned close enough to the Persian Gulf to quickly return for more cargo when conditions permitted, as noted by the nonprofit organization United Against Nuclear Iran. Charlie Brown, an advisor to the organization, mentioned in a Bloomberg report that if this pattern is reemerging, it likely indicates a strategic choice by ship operators. Instead of planning to unload oil in Pakistan, they may consider the area a relatively secure place to wait out the current circumstances.

Current Fleet Movements

Not all Iranian oil tankers are following this route. The waters off Malaysia's eastern coast remain a key staging area for vessels linked to Iran, where ship-to-ship transfers bound for China frequently occur. These transfers are often conducted at night or with transponders turned off to evade detection by monitoring authorities. In recent weeks, most tankers departing the Persian Gulf have indicated Singapore as their intended destination.

Ownership of the Tankers

Both the Rani and the Amil are currently under US sanctions and are part of what is commonly referred to as Iran's dark fleet, a network of vessels used to transport Iranian oil while circumventing international oversight. According to the maritime database Equasis, the Rani is owned and managed by Starboard Shipping Inc-Pan, a company based in Panama. The Amil is owned by Malaysia's Amelie Ltd. and managed by Espoir Shipping Ltd., which operates out of Hong Kong.