Report: Iran's Oil Exports Increased Despite Sanctions

Data from the American NGO 'United Against Nuclear Iran' for 2024 indicates that the Iranian government's ability to maintain and increase oil exports despite U.S. sanctions remained high this year, benefiting from OPEC+ production cuts and weak enforcement of sanctions. The report states that this has helped the Islamic Republic strengthen its economy while continuing to violate human rights and support its proxy forces like Hezbollah and Hamas. According to the report, in 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran exported 587 million barrels of oil, a 10.75% increase compared to 530 million barrels in the previous year. The United Against Nuclear Iran report states that over the four years since the Biden administration took office, the Iranian government has exported nearly 1.98 billion barrels of oil. The organization also announced that for the sixth consecutive year since the launch of the Iranian oil export tracking system, China was the largest importer of Iranian oil, receiving 533 million barrels, a 24% increase from 431 million barrels in 2023. This accounts for 91% of Iran's total oil exports, up from 83% in 2023. According to the report, one of the most notable changes regarding Iran's oil exports in 2024 was the reliance on the National Iranian Tanker Company's fleet for direct loading. Since the National Iranian Tanker Company is also under U.S. sanctions, this represents a significant change from previous years when foreign-flagged vessels often transported oil directly from Iranian ports. In 2024, this practice significantly decreased, which the 'United Against Nuclear Iran' group attributes to the direct impact of sanctions imposed this year on foreign-flagged vessels participating in the transportation of sanctioned Iranian oil. The report states that the increasing use of foreign-flagged tankers in ship-to-ship transfers, especially in international waters, indicates the Islamic Republic's efforts to adapt to intensified sanctions and minimize the risks associated with the direct role of foreign-flagged vessels in the country's oil exports. The organization recommends that global cooperation and strategies beyond traditional methods be strengthened to disrupt illegal oil flows. The 'United Against Nuclear Iran' organization works to prevent the Iranian government's ambitions to achieve nuclear weapons.