Persian Gulf oil exports hit 72% of prewar levels as US says Iran is exhausted by blockade

The oil is flowing again in the Persian Gulf — even as Iran is choking on fumes.Oil exports from the region have rebounded to 72% of pre-war levels and crude flow through the Strait of Hormuz is now a little under half what it was before the war, according to analysts.Meanwhile, Iran appears to be running on fumes, according to US officials — who say the country is being “strangled” by the US Navy blockade that has locked out Iran’s ports and caused its trade to free fall.US officials told the Post that as oil exports continue to increase, America’s negotiating ability only increases.President Trump is now reportedly willing to give Tehran sanctions relief and release frozen assets in exchange for a concrete nuclear deal, one official said.Hardliners in Iran, however, have rejected such conditions and even called on the country to end any cooperation on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.“They are exhausted,” a US official told The Post.

“There’s no doubt that they’re exhausted.”“They’re running out of supplies.They’re running out of water.

They’re running out of feedstock.They’re running out of food,” the official added.

“And the blockade is strangling them.It’s almost like we’re like an anaconda.

And every time they let out a breath, we squeeze a little more.”  The country’s rial, which was already in massive trouble before the war, has also plunged to a new low of 2.45 million to one US dollar — explosive inflation from a year ago when $1 was worth 42,000 rials.“Operation Economic Outcast has caused the rial to hit record lows,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote on X.“We will continue to degrade the Iranian regime’s ability to fund terrorism and develop a nuclear weapon.”US officials told the Post that as oil flow continues to increase out of the Persian Gulf, America’s negotiating ability only increases.Oil flowing out of the Strait of Hormuz is on the rise as ships confidently sail under ...