Oil, Sanctions, and Strategy: Iran Exports Persist While Trump Rethinks China Trip

Iran continues to export oil in significant volumes, including to China; against this background, US President Donald Trump has postponed his visit to Beijing by one month. Iran Continues Oil Exports to China One of the factors considered in Washington in favor of launching military aggression against Iran was the assumption that Tehran would not want to close the Strait of Hormuz for fear of blocking its own oil exports. But Iran closed the strait and, surprisingly, continues to receive significant income from energy trade. Iranian tankers continue to transport millions of barrels of oil daily through the Strait of Hormuz. The main importer remains China, which in recent years has accounted for between 50% and 90% (according to various estimates) of all Iranian crude exports. Exports continue even through the largest terminal on Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, despite missile strikes in the area.