Iran Threatens to Block Regional Oil Routes After US Reimposed Strait of Hormuz Blockade

Herz — World Desk · 15 July 2026 at 10:36 · 30s summary · 3 min read

What We Know

On July 15, 2026, the United States reimposed a naval blockade targeting Iranian oil exports in the Strait of Hormuz—the maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, bordered to the north by Iran and to the south by the United Arab Emirates and Oman. In response, Tehran threatened that same day to block all regional oil export routes, according to NPR.

The day before, on July 14, 2026, two tankers carrying Iranian crude shifted their destination signal toward Karachi, Pakistan. The first, the Rani, is a Suezmax-class vessel—a category of large tankers whose maximum dimensions permit them to transit the Suez Canal at full capacity. The second, the Amil, is a medium-tonnage ship. Together, the two vessels carried 1 million barrels and were already outside the Persian Gulf when the blockade took effect.

What Happens to These Tankers?

According to the South China Morning Post, the two vessels are heading toward Pakistani waters to wait or conduct a ship-to-ship transfer of their cargo to other tankers.

Direct unloading in Pakistan is considered highly unlikely. According to Kpler, a firm specializing in real-time tracking of raw materials flows via maritime position data from tankers, Pakistan has imported no Iranian crude for at least the past ten years. Sourcing from Iran would expose Pakistan to US sanctions.

A Known Tactic

This type of maneuver is not unprecedented. During previous US blockades of Iranian oil exports, several Iran-linked tankers had already stationed in waters near Karachi, awaiting a return to the Persian Gulf. This is documented by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), an American nongovernmental organization that monitors and documents movements of Iran-linked tankers to identify circumvention of international sanctions.

Timeline

1. July 14, 2026
   Tankers Rani (Suezmax, large tonnage) and Amil (medium tonnage), carrying a combined 1 million barrels of Iranian crude, shift their destination signal toward Karachi while already outside the Persian Gulf.
2. July 15, 2026
   The United States officially reimposed the naval blockade of Iranian oil exports in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responds by threatening to block all regional oil export routes.

The Numbers