Shipping data collated Monday by Bloomberg show that Iran moved a minimum of 57 million barrels of crude oil in the temporary lull between two U.S. naval blockades. The flows followed an interim agreement reached last month between Washington and Tehran that eased restrictions and lifted sanctions on Iranian oil sales for a limited period.
During that interval, Tehran shipped crude at an average pace of at least 2.2 million barrels per day. The figure reported is a conservative estimate: the country has a record of concealing the details of some cargo movements, and the true volume could therefore be higher. The recorded shipments came from Iran’s official export terminals as well as from vessels that had been detained at an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman.
President Trump took to social media on Monday to say the United States will restore its blockade of ships entering or leaving Iranian ports. In his post, he added that the U.S. will demand a 20% reimbursement on all other cargo moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
"We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran's ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait," Trump said. "The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,' but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World."
Much of the exported crude is reportedly en route to buyers and could offer Tehran a degree of economic relief if purchasers can be identified and payments secured. The surge in Iranian supply following the interim accord contributed to lower oil prices in the two weeks after that agreement was announced.
The initial U.S. blockade left Kharg Island - Iran’s principal export terminal in the Persian Gulf - out of operation for several weeks and reduced the country's oil production. The interval between that first blockade and the reinstated measures provided the window during which the exports documented by Bloomberg occurred.
Available shipping records attribute the observed flows to a combination of official export facility loadings and the release or departure of tankers that had been blocked at an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman. Where precise ownership, final destinations, or payment arrangements are concerned, the data are limited; historical practices by Iran to obscure cargo movements mean reported volumes should be viewed as a lower-bound estimate.
The developments link directly to energy market dynamics and maritime commerce. The added supply during the pause coincided with a short-term easing in prices, while the announcement of renewed blockade measures and the proposed 20% charge on transiting cargoes introduce new variables for shipping operators and buyers that use the Strait of Hormuz.
Clear summary
Bloomberg shipping data indicate Iran exported at least 57 million barrels of crude during a temporary pause between two U.S. naval blockades, moving roughly 2.2 million barrels per day. The flows included oil loaded at export facilities and tankers previously held at a Gulf of Oman port. President Trump said on social media on Monday that the U.S. will reinstate the blockade and collect a 20% reimbursement on cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The additional supply contributed to lower oil prices in the two weeks after the interim agreement.