Iran Can Withstand Hormuz Blockade For Weeks Or Even Months: Report

Last Updated:April 13, 2026, 23:56 IST

As per the report, Iran has only one customer for its crude, independent Chinese “teapot” refiners who soak up over 90% of its exports.

US-Iran War: The United States on Monday said that it began blocking ships from entering or exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iran may be able to withstand the blockade of the critical waterway for weeks or even months as it has stores as large stockpile of crude oil at sea, Wall Street Journal reported.

As per the report, Tehran has built a stockpile of oil outside the Strait of Hormuz and Chinese

crude importers could help withstand blockade.

According to the report citing Vortexa data, Tehran has significantly increased its oil exports in recent months, shipping about 1.84 million barrels per day last month. Exports were even higher in February, reaching 2.15 million barrels per day—pushing Iran’s average shipments roughly 26% above its 2025 levels.

Much of this increase came as Iran ramped up exports ahead of anticipated military tensions involving the United States and Israel last year. As a result, a large volume of Iranian crude is now stored on tankers outside the Persian Gulf.

As per the report, Iran has only one customer for its crude, independent Chinese “teapot" refiners who soak up over 90% of its exports. As Beijing sets annual quotas on how much the teapot refineries can buy, they couldn’t take all of the excess oil immediately.

Estimates suggest that Iran currently has around 160 million barrels of oil floating at sea. While some of this crude has already been sold, the stock could allow Tehran to continue supplying its main customer for an extended period even if shipments through Hormuz are disrupted.

These teapot refiners in China account for over 90% of Iran’s oil exports. Based on China’s current import levels of roughly 1.8 million barrels per day, the existing stockpile could sustain supplies until at least mid-July.

The report surfaced amid efforts by US President Donald Trump to pressure Iran by targeting its oil revenues. However, analysts suggest that Tehran’s strategy of building floating reserves may help it weather short-term disruptions better than expected, potentially reducing the immediate impact of any blockade on its economy.

Meanwhile, Washington said on Monday that it has started stopping ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, increasing pressure on Iran after peace talks broke down.

After the 10 a.m. ET deadline for the blockade began, Trump warned Iran not to send its fast boats near American forces.

He said that if any Iranian vessels come close to US ships enforcing the blockade, they will be destroyed quickly and forcefully.

“If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

News world Iran Can Withstand Hormuz Blockade For Weeks Or Even Months: Report

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