Washington: Iranian oil shipments have not transited the Strait of Hormuz to China since the resumption of the naval blockade

Washington, Sept 4 (KUNA) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday that Iranian oil shipments have failed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz en route to China since the United States resumed enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

In a post on the social media platform X, Bessent stated, "Since the United States resumed enforcing the blockade, no shipments of Iranian crude oil have succeeded in passing through the Strait of Hormuz en route to China." He added that "Iran cannot replenish its oil reserves amid crude oil accumulating on tankers stranded within the strait," affirming the effectiveness of the "economic strangulation" measures against Iran.

He continued, "This is how Iran’s lifeline of exports faces the risk of being cut off, given stranded oil, limited storage capacity, and rapidly declining revenues."

The United States launched the "Economic Outcast" operation on August 24 last year, a campaign aimed at cutting off the financial and trade channels that Iran relies on, and tightening sanctions on entities that assist it in circumventing sanctions or generating revenue. The campaign includes expanding the scope of secondary sanctions, threatening entities that continue to deal with Iran with exclusion from the U.S. dollar-based financial system. (End) A.M.M. / M.A.A.