Iran Sanctions 45 Tankers Including Korea’s Sinokor

Large oil tankers at sea near the Strait of Hormuz

Written by

As of August 25, 2026, Iran's newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority has blacklisted 45 tankers for violating Hormuz Strait transit rules, including vessels owned by South Korean shipping firm Sinokor Merchant Marine. The authority warned it can fine, detain, or seize cargo from ships on the list, and tensions around Hormuz are flaring again as the US moves to tighten sanctions on Iran.

45 tankersVessels Iran blacklisted for Hormuz Strait transit violations

5 shipsSinokor Merchant Marine vessels named on the sanctions list

8 million barrels/dayCrude oil volume the US energy secretary says flows through Hormuz daily

Key points

On August 23, Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) blacklisted 45 tankers for violating transit rules.
The list reportedly includes five vessels owned by Korea's Sinokor Merchant Marine.
Ships tied to shipping companies from Norway, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Netherlands were also named.
The US has signaled tougher sanctions on Iran, and President Trump keeps claiming the Hormuz Strait falls under American jurisdiction.

Iran's newly formed strait watchdog, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), posted the names of 45 tankers on X on August 23, warning that vessels on the list could face fines, detention, or cargo seizure for violating transit rules. The roster includes ships owned by Sinokor Merchant Marine, a South Korean shipping company. Local reports put the Sinokor-owned count at five vessels. Sinokor ranks as Korea's third-largest shipping company by revenue.

The blacklist spans a mix of vessel types, from ultra-large crude carriers to LNG and LPG tankers to refined-product carriers. Alongside Sinokor, ships tied to Norwegian ship manager Klaveness, Saudi Arabia's state-run carrier Bahri, the logistics and shipping arm of Abu Dhabi's state oil company ADNOC and its subsidiary Navig8, and vessels from Stolt Tankers all made the list.

The PGSA said it could add more vessels to the sanctions list, including ships involved in ship-to-ship transfers with already-blacklisted tankers, though it didn't spell out exactly which rule each vessel broke. Given that Iranian authorities have long required advance transit permits and toll-like fees from ships passing through the strait, the move is widely seen as connected to that requirement. Vessels named on the list reportedly can still be removed if operators submit supporting documentation.

The crackdown lands as the US signals even harsher sanctions on Iran, reigniting tensions around the Hormuz Strait. President Trump has repeatedly claimed the waterway effectively falls under US jurisdiction. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said roughly 8 million barrels of crude oil pass safely through the strait each day thanks to US Navy escorts.

In Korea right nowIn Korea, the direct naming of Sinokor Merchant Marine, one of the country's major carriers, has put the shipping industry on alert. Since Korea sources much of its crude from the Middle East, any disruption to Hormuz transit could ripple into domestic energy supply and shipping costs. There's been no official government response so far, but attention is turning to how Sinokor and other Korean carriers navigate the situation.

FAQ

What is the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA)?

It's a newly created Iranian body tasked with overseeing Hormuz Strait transit, including publicizing and sanctioning ships it says violated transit rules.

Why were Korean ships included on the list?

Five vessels owned by Korean shipping company Sinokor Merchant Marine were blacklisted for alleged transit rule violations, though the specific rule broken wasn't disclosed.

Will this actually stop the ships from sailing?

So far, Iran has only warned of possible fines, detention, or cargo seizure. Reports indicate there's a process for vessels to be removed from the list by submitting supporting documentation.