Gulf oil shipping disrupted by mass tanker blackout before major crude transfer during US-Iran negotiations: company

(SeaPRwire) –   Maritime tracking transmissions ceased near the UAE’s primary oil hub, causing disruption to Persian Gulf shipping just hours before President Donald Trump announced progress on a bilateral peace agreement with Iran, according to an AI maritime firm.

Windward AI, a maritime intelligence firm, first detected the blackout in Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmissions close to Fujairah, suggesting increased electronic warfare, signal jamming, intentional AIS shutdowns, and significant cyber interference near the crucial UAE oil port.

“Fujairah goes dark: AIS transmissions collapse after Iran’s PGSA announcement,” Windward warned in a post shared on X.

The firm stated, “Vessels are still in the area. They are loading less, and a meaningful number have gone dark.”

As Trump announced that an Iran deal was “largely negotiated” and would lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Fujairah proceeded to move 1.35 million barrels of crude on Sunday aboard a single tanker bound for South Korea.

“Today, May 24, the port moved 1.35 million barrels, a single VLCC, destined for South Korea,” Windward reported, also noting a tense, ongoing “ceasefire posture” and the rapid establishment of a blockade presence.

Windward commented, “While one cargo does not signify a return to normal operations, it represents the initial indication of resumed flow from Fujairah since the announcement.”

Prior to the barrel transfer, Trump had declared that Washington and Tehran had “largely finalized” a memorandum of understanding for a peace accord. He also shared an AI-generated image depicting exploding IRGC fast boats in the strait.

Iran directly countered by reiterating that the strategic maritime choke point remains under Tehran’s complete authority.

“We reaffirm that the Strait of Hormuz will remain under full Iranian administration and sovereignty, even in the event of reaching any future agreement,” stated Ibrahim Al-Fiqar, Iran’s official military spokesperson, in a post on X.

“The Islamic Republic stresses that the authority to determine transit routes, schedules, and the issuance of maritime licenses is an absolute sovereign right held exclusively by Tehran.”

The tanker blackout, crude transfer activity, and progress towards a U.S.-Iran agreement intensified after Iran established its Persian Gulf Strait Authority on May 20.

The PGSA, supervised by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, operates as a sovereign regulatory body, mandating that ships provide details on their vessel, cargo, insurance, and crew—along with compulsory fees—to ensure “safe passage” through the strait.

Regional analysts informed Digital that, prior to the deal’s advancement, Iran’s territorial assertions had extended beyond its own maritime boundaries into regions associated with Oman and the UAE.

Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute, explained to Digital that enforcement “depends on the IRGC Navy’s asymmetric tactics.”

Vatanka noted, “This involves fast boats, drones, radar surveillance, coastal missiles, and targeted intimidation instead of continuous physical intervention.”

He further stated, “Tehran aims for Gulf states and significant importers to progressively acknowledge Iranian control over Hormuz as a new geopolitical fact.”

Although nuclear matters are central to the ongoing negotiations, alongside reports of a 60-day ceasefire, the PGSA has rapidly become an economic instrument of leverage, posing a threat to global oil and shipping markets.

“Now Hormuz serves as Iran’s primary non-nuclear leverage tool,” Vatanka asserted, claiming the PGSA provides Tehran with a “mechanism to exert pressure on adversaries, benefit allies, and normalize IRGC supervision of one of the world’s most vital energy pathways.”

Vatanka indicated that the system was operating as a wartime extortion method.

Vatanka cautioned, “Vessels provide cargo and crew information for approval, while reports suggest discreet ‘facilitation payments,’ favorable treatment for allied nations, and unpredictability for all others.”

“Iran intentionally maintains vague penalties. Non-compliant vessels face potential delays, harassment, drone surveillance, IRGC interception, or refusal of safe passage — sufficient pressure to promote adherence without completely shutting down the strait.”