The minister stated that the sector has not remained idle, citing successful efforts to move significant volumes of oil during a brief three-week window when sanctions were lifted earlier this summer. However, shipping data contradicts the official optimism. According to intelligence firm Kpler, Iranian port loadings plummeted to 260,000 barrels per day in August, an 80% drop from the 1.7 million barrels recorded in August 2025. Other tracking services, including Vortexa and TankerTrackers.com, report that the U.S. measures have been highly effective in stifling both export volumes and critical state revenue.

Washington continues to exert pressure through its "Economic D-Day" initiative, aiming to maximize financial strain on Tehran. In response, China remains the primary outlier in the global market. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian confirmed that Beijing intends to protect its commercial interests, dismissing U.S. sanctions aimed at entities facilitating trade with Iran. While the U.S. pursues "Operation Economic Outcast," the ongoing diplomatic and economic friction keeps global markets volatile, with Brent crude prices hovering near $96 per barrel.