This month, Iran's primary oil export terminals appear to be largely idle. The US continues its maritime blockade, applying pressure to push Tehran toward a peace agreement. However, due to limited external visibility into actual local operations, a complete picture remains difficult to obtain.

During the first nine days of August, satellite imagery from the EU's Sentinel program captured six images of Iran's key oil export hub, Kharg Island, none of which showed any very large crude carriers (VLCCs) present. During this period, only two smaller vessels were observed at berths in the Jask and Sorush oil facilities. On August 4, the Kharg Island terminal was completely empty of ships.

Compared to the previous month, terminal activity has notably contracted. According to satellite imagery and data from consulting firms Kpler Ltd and Vortexa, seven to ten VLCCs docked at Kharg Island in July, along with an additional six smaller vessels observed across the three terminals of Kharg, Jask, and Sorush. Crude loading activity was concentrated in the first half of July, a period when Washington and Tehran had reached a ceasefire agreement, prompting the US to temporarily lift the blockade.

Since then, oil loading operations have slowed again, reflecting Washington's renewed economic pressure to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen shipping disrupted for nearly six months. US President Donald Trump stated over the weekend that "severe inflation" and economic hardship would be sufficient to force concessions from Tehran, making further military action unnecessary. The US Central Command posted on social media platform X on Sunday, stating that its enforcement of embargo measures had already forced 55 commercial vessels to change course.