US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is useless, Iran's crude oil exports are still hot

As Iran opens the Strait of Hormuz as part of the ceasefire in Lebanon, the US Navy continues to block tankers entering and leaving Iranian ports. (X @CENTCOM)

JAKARTA - Maritime analytics company Kpler revealed that the United States Navy's (US) attempt to blockade the Strait of Hormuz around Iranian ports did not have a significant impact on Iran's oil exports.

CNN on Thursday, April 23, reported that Kpler said the loading infrastructure of ships in Iranian ports was still running amid the US forces blockade.

Based on Kpler data, tanker ships are still constantly coming and going in the Iranian loading zone.

Followed by Iranian crude oil still moving towards China, which reached 985,000 barrels per day in the first half of April.

Since the US blockade was imposed, according to Kpler, the flow of these cargo numbers has not been interrupted.

In fact, Kpler data shows that Jask, Iran's oil export terminal that passes through the Strait of Hormuz, recorded an all-time high of 5.8 million barrels of oil stored.

The tanker ship loaded with oil can leave the Jask terminal for the Gulf of Oman without passing through the strait.

"The blockade has disrupted the oil machinery, but has not destroyed it," Kpler said.

Last night, US Central Command announced that the US Navy had diverted 31 ships to return to port or turn around as part of the ongoing US blockade of Iran.

The US Central Command said most of the diverted vessels were oil tankers.

Previously, the US had also seized an Iranian-flagged ship in the Gulf of Oman and boarded a sanctioned vessel in the Indian Ocean.