“President Donald J. Trump is taking action intended to bring Iran’s oil exports to zero and deny the regime its principal source of revenue,” the White House declared in an April 22, 2019 statement. While former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed Iranian crude oil exports decreased by over 95% under the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure campaign,” Iran, aided by China and Russia, still managed to sell some oil on the black market. Furthermore, by increasing non-oil exports, such as steel, cement, and other building materials, Iran was able to partially compensate for lost oil revenue and keep its economy afloat. At present, while Iranian oil exports appear to be under less pressure from U.S. sanctions, they are still very limited in comparison with other regional exporters.

• September 10: Under the headline “Fourfold Increase of Oil Exports Despite 223 Sanctions,” Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps mouthpiece Javan newspaper triumphantly discussed the resilience of Iran’s oil industry and exports:
  • “The revenue generated from Iran’s crude exports to China alone has surpassed $3.3 billion per month. Iran’s crude and natural gas refined at refineries in Latin America exceeds 500,000 barrels per day. This is at a time when the U.S. Treasury reports the United States imposed 223 new oil sanctions against Iran from May 2022 to June 2023 … Nevertheless … Iran’s oil exports in the same time period grew fourfold.”
  • Praising President Ebrahim Raisi’s policies, Javan columnist Vahid Azimnia continued: “In response to Western sanctions, the Oil Ministry focused on finding new markets for its crude oil, concentrating on South America, Central Asia, Africa, and West Asia as well as private refineries in East Asia. Through joint ventures and trade deals with countries in Latin America and Africa, Iran expanded its crude exports to these places. This cooperation encompassed not only selling crude oil but also updating oil refineries in these countries, which was mutually beneficial … Separately, by finding markets in East Asia and targeting private and state-owned refineries, Iran managed to increase exports and revenue despite Western sanctions.”
  • “According to the latest statistics, Iran’s crude exports have reached 8.1 million barrels per day. In 2019, Iran’s crude exports were reduced to 300,000 barrels per day.”