Iranian Tanker Evades U.S. Blockade, Delivers LPG to China

A sanctioned Iranian tanker carrying approximately 500,000 barrels of liquefied petroleum gas bypassed the U.S. naval blockade and delivered its cargo to China, according to United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI).

The vessel, identified as SOGL (IMO 9208227), loaded Iranian LPG at Assaluyeh Port in late August and got past the blockade on September 1, UANI reported. The group claims it filmed the tanker at a Malaysian anchorage on September 16 before it proceeded to China.

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the SOGL on October 8, labeling it one of 17 shadow fleet vessels. The Comoros-flagged tanker, owned by Gravion Maritime Company, has transported more than two million barrels of Iranian propane/butane since September 2025.

UANI noted that since the blockade was reinstated in July, only about nine small tankers carrying Iranian LPG have successfully passed the blockade line. The group also reported no Iranian crude tankers have evaded U.S. enforcement since July 12.

UANI analyst Jemima Shelley explained that small tankers often disable their AIS transponders, fly false flags, and attempt to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. They may transfer cargo to another ship in the Gulf of Oman before trying to breach the blockade line.

The DANDELION (IMO 9379404), another vessel on UANI's list, is suspected of attempting to breach the U.S. maritime blockade with 490,000 barrels of Iranian LPG, which it took on from the SEA OPERA in a ship-to-ship transfer off Shinas, Oman, on October 26.