Iran stockpiles oil on ageing tankers anchored in the Gulf
Financial Times
Iran is being forced to store oil on ageing tankers anchored in the Gulf as the US blockade puts a squeeze on Tehran’s ability to export to the Far East.
About 39 tankers laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals are currently in the Gulf, compared with 29 before the US blockade coming into force on April 13, according to data from United Against Nuclear Iran — with a major build-up of ships now moored near the Kharg Island oil export terminal.
The FT and Uani have also identified a further 13 suspected tankers moored off Iran’s Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman, on the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz, just within the theoretical blockade line of the US Navy.
The build-up shows the apparent effectiveness of the US blockade, which has a stated aim of subjecting any Iranian vessels or those that are suspected of carrying Iranian cargoes to “visit, board, search and seizure” by the US Navy in an attempt to cut off Iran’s oil revenues.
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