The economic clock is ticking for Iran as Middle East oil exports returned to pre-war levels in September, showing the regime's attacks in the Strait of Hormuz are no longer working to pressure its neighbors and the United States.
At least 16.5 million barrels a day of crude oil left the Middle East Gulf region between Sept. 1 and Sept. 28, matching the pre-war average for the region's producers other than Iran, according to tanker-tracking and satellite analysis published this week by global trade data firm Kpler. That is 10.5 million barrels a day more than the region averaged in March, the first full month after the war shut down the strait, the firm found.
The one producer missing from the recovery is Iran itself.
While its neighbors have seen the revival of their oil exports, Iran is missing out on the recovery. Iran's oil exports have hovered near zero since the U.S. imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports in July after the ceasefire broke down. Counting Iran, the region's crude exports stand at 91% of pre-war levels.
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