Kharg Island Goes 10 Days Without Tanker Loadings as US Blockade Strains Iran Exports
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 18
Kharg Island Goes 10 Days Without Tanker Loadings as US Blockade Strains Iran Exports
6 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 18
At least 10 days have passed without any large ocean-going tanker loading at Kharg Island, Iran’s main crude export terminal in the Persian Gulf.
Seven Sentinel satellite images taken since May 8 — including the latest on Saturday — showed no tankers at the facility’s crude-export berths, indicating the disruption is persistent rather than temporary.
The empty berths point to mounting pressure from the US naval blockade, which is increasingly constraining Tehran’s ability to move oil exports.
That marks a sharp contrast with May 16 images showing 23 tankers gathered around Kharg Island, suggesting ships were backing up offshore even as loadings stalled.
With US and Iranian forces in a standoff, what single act could ignite all-out war in this critical oil chokepoint?
As Iran's oil finds new buyers outside the dollar, is this the end of America's financial dominance?
Iran Under Siege: The 2026 US Blockade, Oil Industry Paralysis, and Worldwide Economic Repercussions
Overview
In mid-April 2026, after failed negotiations, the United States under President Trump imposed a strict naval blockade on Iran, aiming to cut off its vital oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the blockade and recent military operations, Iran continued loading crude oil at Kharg Island, but faced mounting economic and environmental pressures. The blockade triggered a sharp economic downturn in Iran, with soaring inflation, job losses, and a plummeting currency, while also causing global oil prices to rise and threatening marine ecosystems. Diplomatic efforts remain stalled, leaving the region tense and the future uncertain.