On Thursday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani disclosed the country’s plan to export oil from its Gulf of Oman port by March to avoid using the Strait of Hormuz shipping route.
Rouhani stated, “This is a strategic decision and an important step for Iran that will secure the continuation of our oil exports. This move will assure our oil buyers that Iran will continue exporting oil if the Strait is closed.”
Starting March, Iran plans to ship 1 million bpd of oil from Bandar-e Jask, a port on Iran’s Gulf of Oman coast, in the south of the Strait of Hormuz.
Previously, Iran has often threatened to block the Strait if the US shut its crude exports. Since 2018, Tehran has been having tensions with Washington after the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear pact. US President Donald Trump then reimposed sanctions on Iran and crushes its vital oil trade.
Since then, the Strait of Hormuz has seen periodic confrontations between the US and Iranian military.
