Iran's clandestine network of oil tankers, known as the "ghost fleet," transported approximately 60 million barrels of crude oil valued at $5 billion to China between the start of Operation Epic Fury and the imposition of the U.S. Persian Gulf blockade, according to data analyzed by the advocacy group United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI).
Twenty-six of the monitored ships originated from Kharg Island, Iran's primary energy hub and a recent target of U.S. military strikes. The illicit exports generated an estimated $5 billion in revenue for the
Blockade's Economic Impact
The U.S. blockade, which prohibits Iranian tankers from entering or exiting the Persian Gulf, has crippled Tehran's oil-dependent economy. Over 90% of Iran's annual $100 billion oil revenue historically passed through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint now controlled by U.S. forces. UANI estimates the blockade inflicts $435 million in daily economic damage by halting both exports and imports, totaling roughly $13 billion monthly.
At least 34 Iranian ships remain anchored or loitering near Southeast Asia, awaiting risky return voyages through the blockade zone. The tanker Sobar departed Malaysian waters April 19 heading toward Iran, while the Felicity vanished from tracking systems April 18 after leaving the Gulf of Kutch. Satellite imagery reviewed by UANI shows the Felicity attempting to re-enter the Persian Gulf.
Illicit Shipping Routes and U.S. Interdictions
Retired CIA operations officer Rick de la Torre warned that ships departing before the blockade cannot be recovered: "Those vessels will complete their missions. The U.S. military's interdiction efforts signal resolve, they're stopping these ships dead in their tracks."
The Pentagon intercepted two sanctioned ships in the Indian Ocean this week. The Tifani, carrying 1.8 million barrels of Iranian crude, was halted en route to a transfer with a China-bound tanker. The Majestic X was seized hours later, demonstrating U.S. willingness to confront Iranian shipping beyond Gulf waters.
The U.S.-seized container ship Touska, sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2020, previously docked at a Chinese port tied to Iran's missile supply chain. UANI senior adviser Charlie Brown described its movements as "not routine commercial activity" but a deliberate attempt to smuggle contraband through known logistics nodes despite heightened risks.
De la Torre emphasized the dual role of Iran's oil trade: "It wasn't unusual for shipments to include military components, from conventional weapons to ballistic missile technologies. The oil serves as both currency and transport for these transfers."