Iran’s main oil export hub, Kharg Island, has gone quiet for a tenth day as U.S. naval forces enforce a blockade that blocks tanker loading. Sentinel satellite images from May 8 to now show no large vessels docking at the crude‑export berths. The pause cuts Tehran’s revenue and removes millions of barrels from the global supply today.

With 7‑8 million barrels still stored at Kharg, analysts say the facility is at capacity yet idle. Iran’s output has been throttled under the blockade, so keeping crude on land may be cheaper than loading ships that risk interception. The idle inventory also signals a shift in Tehran’s export strategy amid tighter maritime restrictions for the.

Meanwhile, a sanctioned tanker named Vernon docked at the newer Jask terminal, the first of only nine loadings since 2021. Bloomberg’s satellite review captured the Aframax vessel heading toward the mooring, while tracking data confirms its identity. Jask’s limited throughput shows the U.S. sanctions still curtail Iran’s alternative routes operations.

U.S. Central Command has already redirected 75 Iran‑linked commercial vessels and disabled four more since the April 13 blockade. With tanker traffic stalling at Kharg and only sporadic activity at Jask, investors face a tightening supply curve that could push prices higher. The current situation underscores the geopolitical leverage wielded by maritime controls today.