Complete Blockade! U.S. Military Seals Off Iranian Ports, 17 "Shadow Tankers" Liquidated in One Sweep, Will Oil Prices Skyrocket Again?

US Treasury Announces New Sanctions on 17 Oil Tankers Linked to Iran's Shadow Fleet

The US Treasury Department announced a new round of sanctions on Thursday targeting 17 oil tankers associated with Iran's "shadow fleet." In a statement, the Treasury said these vessels are registered across more than a dozen jurisdictions and are responsible for transporting millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and petrochemicals. The US has long accused Iran of using illicit oil revenues to fund its regime and related "terrorist proxies," and this round of sanctions aims to cut off this revenue stream and further weaken Tehran's economy.

The vessels added to the sanctions list are all newly designated targets. The Treasury stated that this action alone is not expected to immediately cause significant changes to Iran's economy, but its goal is to target the "remaining portion" of Iran's shadow fleet and work in conjunction with existing sanctions to limit Iran's ability to attack vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and sustain the regime.

The named vessels include the tanker Tina 5, flying the flag of Vanuatu, which the Treasury said transported over 1.5 million barrels of Iranian crude oil in August; the LPG tanker Sogl, flying the flag of Comoros, which the Treasury said has delivered over 2 million barrels of Iranian propane and butane since September 2025; and the crude oil tanker Shenzhen, flying the flag of Cameroon, which the Treasury said has transported over 3.5 million barrels of Iranian crude oil since November 2025.

A Treasury official said that Iran has stopped loading and unloading oil due to the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports. Kpler data shows that Tehran has not loaded any crude oil for export since August 25.

This means that the US crackdown on Iran's energy export chain is extending from maritime transport to ports and loading/unloading operations. For the global crude oil market, constrained Iranian exports may continue to affect supply expectations in the Middle East and amplify oil price volatility during periods of geopolitical tension.

The report noted that the US-Iran war has severely disrupted the global economy and caused significant volatility in oil and gas prices, as Iran attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is one of the most critical channels for exporting oil and natural gas from the Gulf region, and any escalation of related conflicts could quickly transmit to international energy markets.

At the same time, the conflict has also pushed up US domestic gasoline prices and increased political pressure ahead of the November mid-term elections. According to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average price of gasoline in the US was $4.36 per gallon on Thursday. Market observers expect that if the situation in the Middle East continues to intensify, energy price volatility will remain a focal point for global risk assets.