IRAN'S OIL EXPORTS COLLAPSE 80% UNDER U.S. NAVAL BLOCKADE

🔴 Iran loaded about 260,000 barrels of crude a day for export this month. A year ago the figure was 1.7 million.

That is a drop of more than 80%, according to Kpler data cited by CNBC. Against last month alone, loadings are down about 70% from 893,000 bpd.

The cause is a U.S. naval blockade, reimposed on July 14 after Iran attacked tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Central Command says it has redirected 75 commercial ships, disabled three vessels and boarded two to enforce it.

Kpler's Matt Smith called the blockade "very effective" and said the crude Tehran does manage to load probably never gets past it.

The money math is the story. Oil exports are Iran's crucial revenue source. Roughly 20 million barrels are already sitting on tankers in Asia waiting to discharge to China, and Smith estimates Iran can store about the same again onshore before space runs out and production itself takes the hit.

CNBC reports the shift came after a dozen waves of airstrikes in July failed to move Tehran off its claim to control Hormuz. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced "Operation Economic Outcast" on Monday, telling CNBC: "we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history."

Hormuz traffic is recovering, but slowly. Trump said 10 million barrels exited Tuesday. Kpler tracks 5 million to 6 million bpd, about a third of the 15 million bpd moving before the war started on Feb. 28.

Does cutting off the money end this faster than the airstrikes did?

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