Despite the American blockade.. Iranian Minister: Our oil exports did not stop for “one hour”

Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad claimed that Iranian crude oil exports did not stop even for “one hour,” and that they continued “without interruption” throughout the 40-day war, speaking of the devastation caused by the American strikes on major oil centers. The Iranian Oil Minister's statements come despite the naval blockade imposed by the United States on Iranian ports with the aim of preventing Iranian oil exports.

Pak Nejad said in statements, on Thursday evening, that “crude oil exports continued to flow since February 28 until the announcement of a temporary ceasefire,” adding that the oil sector was able to maintain its operational operations during the war period, according to what was reported by the official Iranian “IRNA” news agency. Pak Nejad said: “Khark Island was subjected to more than 550 strikes, and it is an island with an area of ​​23 or 24 kilometers, and this is a huge level of destruction,” as he described it.

The Iranian Oil Minister added: “But in light of the bombing, our colleagues were loading the ships. This is one of the things on which I firmly believe that history will decide.”

The Iranian minister added, "The oil sector facilities suffered greater damage during the 40-day war, as oil depots in Tehran were targeted on March 7 and 8 last year." He said that oil depots in the city of Rey, south of the capital, and the Shahran and Gojak regions in Tehran were bombed, and oil loading facilities in the Rey depot were damaged, according to what was reported by IRNA.

Regarding oil exports, Pak Nejad said that the country later entered a phase of a naval blockade in April, as a line was identified extending between Ras Al Hadd in the Sultanate of Oman and the Pakistani port of Gwadar, which required taking special measures to ensure the continuation of exports. Pak Nejad added, "The operations of selling oil and delivering it to buyers were carried out at long distances from the Gulf region and the Sea of ​​Oman."

Pak Nejad explained that "the calm period was exploited to transfer large quantities of oil to areas from which it could be delivered to buyers, before the new blockade began on July 15, and is still continuing until now." The US blockade order currently includes all Iranian ports, whether located inside or outside the Strait.

Tehran had demanded that the United States lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports before reopening the Strait of Hormuz, as part of several conditions it set for reopening the Strait.