Iran Continues Oil Exports Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Conflict

Despite attacks on ships in the region, Iran manages to ship millions of barrels of oil through the strategic waterway.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:53pm

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Even as the United States and its allies have crippled oil exports from nearby Persian Gulf countries, Iran has continued to ship millions of barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Tanker tracking data and satellite imagery show that Iran has exported an estimated 12-13.7 million barrels of oil since the conflict began on February 28, earning much-needed cash to sustain its economy and war effort.

Why it matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint, through which about a fifth of the world's oil output normally flows. Iran's ability to continue exporting oil through the strait, even as other traffic has been severely curtailed, highlights the country's resilience and the challenges the U.S. and its allies face in trying to cut off Iran's oil revenue.

The details

Iran has been able to export about 1 million barrels per day through the strait, compared to its average exports of 1.69 million bpd last year. Much of this oil is being shipped from the deep-water berths on Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal. The U.S. has so far avoided targeting Iran's oil infrastructure, although Israeli strikes have damaged some storage tanks. Iran has also been using tactics like turning off transponders to evade detection and sanctions.

  • The conflict in the region began on February 28, 2026.
  • As of mid-March 2026, Iran had exported an estimated 12-13.7 million barrels of oil since the start of the conflict.

The players

Iran

A major oil producer in the Middle East that has continued to export crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing conflict in the region.

United States

Has so far avoided targeting Iran's oil infrastructure, although it has destroyed much of Iran's navy.

Israel

Has carried out strikes that have damaged some of Iran's oil storage tanks around the capital, Tehran.

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What they’re saying

“The Strait of Hormuz is open, it is only closed to the tankers and ships belonging to our enemies, to those who are attacking us and their allies. Others are free to pass.”

— Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister (CNN)

“I am at the moment engaged in talking to them and my talking has yielded some results. Certainly, from India's perspective, it is better that we reason and we co-ordinate and we get a solution than we don't.”

— S Jaishankar, India's Foreign Minister (Financial Times)

What’s next

The United States has warned that it may reconsider its decision not to target Iran's oil infrastructure on Kharg Island if Iran continues to obstruct the passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the U.S. Treasury Secretary has indicated that the U.S. is currently 'fine' with some Iranian, Indian, and Chinese ships getting through the strait.

The takeaway

Iran's ability to continue exporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz, even as the conflict has crippled exports from nearby countries, highlights the country's resilience and the challenges the U.S. and its allies face in trying to cut off Iran's oil revenue. This dynamic could become a bargaining chip for Iran in its relations with oil-thirsty countries, especially in Asia.