Bessent says Iran loaded no crude onto tankers in September

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a post on X on 1 October that Iran had loaded "ZERO crude oil onto tankers in September", Middle East Eye reports. He presented the figure as a result of Operation Economic Outcast, Washington's sanctions campaign against Tehran, and said it was cutting the economic lifelines the government uses to fund what he called its terrorist agenda. According to Middle East Eye, the US has blockaded Iranian ports since April 2026 to stop oil exports, most of which go to China. The outlet notes that earlier reports found Iranian shadow fleet vessels slipping past the blockade.

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