By Jian Yi, Vision Times
Growing U.S. pressure on Iran’s oil exports is presenting challenges for the country’s storage capacity as key facilities are nearing their limits. The strain is most visible at Kharg Island, which handles roughly 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports.
According to a Gulf News article published Friday, April 24, storage tanks on Kharg Island are approaching full capacity amid continued disruptions to outbound shipments.
Reporting by Reuters indicates that Iran produces about 1 million barrels of oil that it is currently unable to export per day, leading to a rapid accumulation of unsold crude.
Iranian emergency measures underway
To relieve the growing backlog, Iranian authorities have reportedly turned to unconventional solutions. Among them is the reactivation of an aging tanker known as the Nasha, which had been inactive for decades. The vessel is being repurposed as a floating storage unit, effectively serving as a temporary offshore oil depot.
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The use of floating storage is not new in the global oil market, countries and companies have relied on it during periods of oversupply or disrupted logistics, but it typically signals that conventional infrastructure is under strain. Maintaining large volumes of oil at sea can be costly and less efficient than land-based storage, highlighting the constraints facing Iran’s export infrastructure under current conditions.
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Analysts who spoke with Gulf News said that if the current pace continues, available storage space at the facility could be exhausted within weeks. That could force Iran to slow production, meaning potentially dire implications for its economy, which is heavily reliant on oil revenue.
US expands maritime pressure as Middle East conflict continues
At the same time, the United States has continued to increase pressure on Iranian oil shipments. Washington’s efforts to enforce sanctions have included intercepting vessels suspected of transporting Iranian crude, alongside a broader U.S. military presence in the region.
The deployment of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush to the region marks a further escalation in maritime monitoring, particularly around the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.
The narrow waterway remains one of the world’s most vital energy corridors, and any disruption there carries global implications for oil markets.
U.S. officials have signaled that diplomatic options remain available. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran still has an opportunity to engage in negotiations, though he cautioned that “the clock is not on their side.”
U.S. President Donald Trump also issued a warning, saying that if Iranian leadership declines to engage in talks, Washington could consider additional measures, including further military action.
