Iran's Shadow Tanker Fleet Runs Dry After Months of Naval Blockade

Iran's fleet of shadow tankers, which held millions of barrels of crude oil in Asian waters and provided a steady revenue stream, has run dry after months of a US naval blockade. Analysts at Kpler say the floating stockpiles were completely depleted by mid-October, preventing Tehran from selling oil to Chinese refineries. The loss of oil revenue is a major blow to Iran's struggling economy, which faces high inflation and shortages. US Central Command says the blockade has denied Tehran at least $25 billion in oil income, limiting its ability to replace destroyed equipment and weapons. The US actions have taken a "devastating toll" on Iran's security apparatus, according to Admiral Brad Cooper. Iran had developed a complex system to ship oil to China despite sanctions, using tankers to transfer crude near Malaysia and Singapore. The US blockade, re-imposed in mid-July, has cut this supply route. While Iran insists its economy is resilient, analysts say alternative export paths cannot compensate for the lost seaborne volumes, and the economic pressure may be aimed at forcing Tehran back to nuclear negotiations.