Iran continues oil shipments from floating storage in the Gulf, evading new US sanctions and selling millions of barrels to foreign buyers.
Iran Continues Oil Shipments from Floating Storage Despite US Blockade
According to TankerTrackers.com data, Iran continues to load oil from floating storage vessels in the Gulf of Oman and dispatch tankers, despite the new US blockade and tanker movements from its ports.
It is noted that these vessels are technically unaffected by the restrictions as they had already departed from Iranian ports when the blockade began. However, this situation is said to have allowed Iran to sell an additional nine million barrels of crude oil to foreign buyers.
Current market valuations suggest that the total value of the shipments is approximately $900 million, and this figure could be even higher due to barrels ready for urgent delivery.
Sanctioned Tankers Headed to Iran
TankerTrackers.com previously detected that two tankers under US sanctions were making a ballast voyage towards Iran. It was reported that both vessels had their AIS systems turned on and encountered no significant obstacles during their transit.
The US Navy claimed that the blockade is being strictly enforced in both directions and that 13 Iranian tankers have been turned away so far.
US Financial Pressure Move
The Washington administration is preparing new financial sanctions targeting Iran's oil revenues in addition to the maritime blockade. It has been reported that warning letters have been sent to banks in China, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, indicating that secondary sanctions could be imposed if transactions related to Iran continue.
Scott Bessent stated that they are ready to impose strict secondary sanctions against countries purchasing Iranian oil and organizations holding Iranian funds in their banks.
Policy Shift Draws Attention
Recent developments are interpreted as a retreat from the previous approach of the US administration, which partially allowed the sale of Iranian oil in the open market. Last month, the White House had eased some sanctions on Iranian oil in an effort to alleviate global supply tightness.
Diplomatic Traffic Continues
The timing of the pressure is noteworthy as it comes during a period of ongoing diplomatic contacts between the US and Iran. It has been indicated that both parties are preparing for a second round of direct talks, while the US administration is said to have secured a 10-day ceasefire to halt attacks on Lebanon by the Israeli government.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
