Iran Finds Ways to Bypass US Oil Blockade Amid Export Slump
Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad claims his country is using various approaches to circumvent the US oil blockade. The blockade, reinstated by President Donald Trump in mid-July, has significantly constrained Iran's oil exports and revenues, according to trackers' estimates.
Paknejad says that despite the blockade, Iran's oil industry has not stopped operating and authorities are seeking solutions to fully circumvent it. He points out that during a three-week period between mid-June and mid-July, when the blockade was lifted, Iran shipped significant volumes of oil from the Persian Gulf.
However, vessel-tracking services estimate that Iranian oil exports fell significantly in August after the blockade was reinstated, with only about 260,000 barrels per day loaded for export, a 80% drop compared to the 1.7 million barrels per day loaded in August 2025 and more than twice lower than approximately 740,000 barrels per day in July 2026.
The United States is seeking to inflict maximum economic damage on Iran through the blockade and the Economic D-Day initiative announced last week. China, which has been Iran's main buyer of oil, made it clear that it would not stop its ties and trade with Iran after US sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong entities were imposed.