Iran speeds up oil exports amid Israel conflict: Report

Iran is moving quickly to ship its oil out of the country, according to new satellite images. The rush comes at a time when tensions are esclating between Iran and Israel as both countries traded missile and drone strikes on Friday. According to Bloomberg, oil is currently flowing out of Iran's ports in large amounts, signalling Iran wants to make sure it earns as much money as possible from oil sales before potential big-scale strikes may block its exports. Even with oil shipments rising, Iran's biggest export site -- Kharg Island -- has storage tanks that are now full.advertisementMany of the oil tanks at Kharg Island were only partially filled, according to satellite images taken by Planet Labs on June 11. Because of their floating roofs, these tanks' roofs rise and block sunlight when they are full. The tanks' shadows at the time indicated that they weren't yet full.SATELLITE IMAGES CONFIRM TANKS ARE FULL AFTER ATTACKS BEGIN
But on June 18, shortly after the Israeli attacks began, another set of satellite images showed a major change. The tanks now had no visible shadows on their roofs, which meant they were full to the top. The shadows around the tanks were still visible, proving that sunlight wasn't the issue. The photos were taken around the same time of day, under similar conditions, Bloomberg noted.This means Iran had presumably prepared for disruptions by filling its oil storage tanks. The tanks remain full despite high exports, indicating that Kharg is receiving even more oil. Iran seems to be storing more oil in case it is unable to ship later, while simultaneously exporting as quickly as possible.advertisementAccording to a 2024 S&P Global Commodity Insights report cited by Bloomberg, Kharg Island can store about 28 million barrels of crude oil. Two large tanks, each holding 1 million barrels, were repaired recently. It's unclear if these were counted in the previous storage total.IRAN'S STRATEGY CHANGES TO AVOID RISKIran's oil exports increased significantly after Israel launched missile strikes against the country on June 13. According to data from TankerTrackers.com, Iran exported an average of 2.33 million barrels of oil per day in the five days after the attacks, a 44% increase from earlier in the year.This may explain why Iran's oil tankers have started changing their usual behaviour. In the days before the attacks, satellite images from June 11 showed several large tankers -- each able to carry around 2 million barrels -- waiting near Kharg Island. This was seen as a normal number by experts, based on earlier comparisons.But a new image from June 17 -- four days after missiles struck Iran -- tells a different story. The tankers had all disappeared from the nearby waters. Bloomberg points out that this shows how Iran is now keeping ships farther away from the island until the last moment. Tankers arrive quickly, loading oil fast, and then leaving immediately, which reduces their chances of being hit during an attack.This method isn't new to Iran. In a similar response back in October, when Israel also launched attacks. At that time, Iran used the same strategy: spreading tankers out to safer areas and keeping oil exports flowing.Tune InMust Watch

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Business Standard

18 minutes ago

• Business Standard

Sonia slams govt's silence on Gaza, Iran, calls it 'surrender of values'

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First Post

29 minutes ago

• First Post

Did US really name fighter jet F-47 after Trump?

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The records from the Air Force showed that the name F-47 had its roots in an iconic World War II fighter plane, and the generals also found it an interesting way to honour the current US President. The records showed that General David Allvin, the Air Force's chief of staff, had an 'urgent' request for information about a World War 2 aircraft. A few hours later, Air Force researchers sent a two-page description of the P-47 aircraft, popularly known as 'Thunderbolt'. Airmen adopted their moniker for the P-47, calling it 'Juggernaut.' Over time, since the jet looked like a glass milk bottle, it was soon referred to as 'Jug'. In the memo obtained by Bloomberg, the US Air Force described the P-47 as 'probably the best ground-attack aircraft fielded by the United States. 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'Sir, Request coordination with SECDEF office,' an Air Force public affairs official wrote in an email sent to Lieutenant General Dale White, the military deputy in the Air Force's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. However, General Allvin's team dismissed the claim that the decision to honour P-47 was taken after Trump's announcement. At least one reporter pressed an Air Force spokesperson for more details about the 'designation for the F-47.' 'The nomenclature system exists to maintain an orderly, non-chaotic process of naming systems,' the reporter asked. 'Why was it abandoned in this case? And who decided to do that?' the reporter asked. Ann Stefanek, the Air Force spokesperson, did not share additional details on the matter and just remarked: 'General Allvin made the decision.' It will now remain unclear exactly when the decision to honour the aircraft was taken. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies.

First Post

29 minutes ago

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Op Rising Lion: Israel may have an edge, but peace will still be elusive in West Asia

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Netanyahu further added that Israeli aircraft struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment and weaponisation facility at Natanz (the plant produced uranium enriched up to 60 per cent) and Tabriz. Tehran was caught by surprise and did not expect Israel to attack while its representatives were engaged with the US in talks to reach an agreement on the nuclear programme. Consequently, Iran suffered heavy losses, and as per the experts estimates, almost 15 per cent of its missile arsenal was destroyed, including critical air defence systems. Additionally, its several top military commanders and scientists were killed during the opening strike, including Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, 'Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Chief Hossein Salami and Chief IGRC Central Command, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, besides aerospace-nuclear scientist Fereydoon Abbasi. Reacting to the Israeli massive strikes, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei declared that Tehran's response would not be 'half measured' and Israel would not be allowed to engage in 'hit and run' attacks without consequences. As an immediate response, Iran retaliated with drones and launched hundreds of missiles in waves at Israel. Its long-feared retaliatory capabilities appeared to be subdued as most of the missiles were either intercepted or fell short. However, some did penetrate the Israeli air defence, causing damage to the residential buildings, besides resulting in civilian casualties. This did have a psychological impact, as the Israeli public has not been used to such strikes for quite some time. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quick to clarify that Israel has undertaken unilateral action against Iran and America was not involved. 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A series of strikes were also conducted on the headquarters of the Iranian Defence Forces and Quds Force. In retaliation, Iran fired a fresh salvo of missiles targeting Israeli key infrastructure sites, including oil refineries at port Haifa and Ben-Gurion airport. Israel has been able to inflict heavy losses on Iran and claims to have destroyed around 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers, constituting around one third of Tehran's total holdings. Iran has an inventory of around 3000 ballistic missiles, of which several hundred have already been fired. Israel has been able to establish air superiority, enabling it to conduct air operations with impunity. However, it is costing Tel Aviv hundreds of millions of dollars a day, an economic burden which it can't sustain for long. Besides the recurring civilian casualties, 24 have been killed and over 200 wounded in the Iranian strikes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While the global polity favours an early end to the ongoing conflict, however, no concrete initiatives have come about so far. India too has urged Iran and Israel to stop fighting, as Delhi has close relations with both the countries. Israel has refused to de-escalate the situation, with Netanyahu stating, 'The issue here is not de-escalation but stopping Iran from developing nuclear capability.' Iran's stance is that it will not negotiate a ceasefire while under attack or if America directly enters the fray. Iran finds itself isolated as no ally has come to support it physically. In fact, Tehran had high expectations from Moscow and Beijing. Even the response of the Islamic world has been muted. Iran's proxies – Hamas, Houthis and Hezbollah – have been considerably weakened by Israeli operations over the last one and a half years. Due to the adverse air situation, Iranian losses have been rather heavy both in terms of equipment and human life (639 killed and almost twice the number wounded). Khamenei is facing the toughest challenge in his three-decade rule in the wake of converging domestic and international threats. As per media reports, he has handed over military powers to the armed forces. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran has reached out to the US president to force Israel to cease fire. Its foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said on X, 'If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping the war, next steps are consequential.' While leaving the G7 Summit on June 16, Trump confirmed that he had received signals through intermediaries that Iran wants to de-escalate. He told the reporters that 'a real end' is better than a ceasefire. He called to Khamenei to surrender unconditionally. Referring to Trump's warning, Khamenei said, 'Those who know Iran's history, know that Iranians do not answer well the language of threat'. Later, in a stern message, the Supreme Leader stated, 'They should know that Iran will not surrender, and a US strike will have serious, irreparable consequences.' Netanyahu has claimed that his country was on a path to victory. Just hours after Trump's warning to Tehran, Israel has launched powerful airstrikes that rocked Tehran, marking a steep escalation. Incidentally, Trump has laid down a timeline of two weeks to take a decision on US entry in the ongoing conflict. America has around 40,000 troops in West Asia, besides its heavy naval presence. Additional warfighting resources have been moved by the US into the region. After the US warning call to the civilians to move out of Tehran, thousands have fled the city. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After a week-long military campaign, the Israel-Iran conflict is at an inflection point. It is apparent that Israel by itself is not capable of taking out Iran's nuclear facilities. Going by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Chief Rafel Grossi, underground facilities at Natanz and Fordow, as well as the heavy water reactor at Arak (Khondab), have not been destroyed. It is only the US Air Force that has the capability to hit these installations with B2 stealth bombers. Trump has given Iran an off-ramp to yield. In case Tehran obliges, then Trump will have a rethink; or else US involvement in the conflict is certain, which will prove disastrous for Iran, besides widening the ambit of conflict with serious ramifications. To even out, Tehran could resort to blocking the Persian Gulf, particularly Kharg Island – Iran's main export terminal – and the Strait of Hormuz, from where 21 per cent world's LNG and 14 million barrels of crude pass every day. The impact of the conflict is already being felt across the globe with the closure of airspace over West Asia and the threat to the sea lanes of communications in the Red Sea, affecting trade and travel. The crude oil prices have risen by around 9 per cent since the start of the conflict and could spike further if the tensions heighten. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The geopolitical architecture of West Asia is set for a tectonic shift, and America could emerge as a key player. It is to be seen whether Iran will ultimately be prevented from going nuclear or Tehran becomes even more determined to produce the atomic bomb. As per Professor Matthew Bunn, Harvard Kennedy School, the probability that Iran will have a nuclear weapon ten years from now is higher now than it would have been without the strike. Historically, while Israel won all the wars since its establishment in 1948, peace has eluded it. Through Operation 'Rising Lion', Israel will be able to ensure a conducive neighbourhood is unlikely until the core issue of Palestine is resolved through an amicable political solution. The writer is a war veteran, currently Professor of Strategic and International Relations. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD