WANA (Jul 25) – U.S. President Donald Trump targeted Iran’s oil exports with sanctions, aiming to bring them down to zero. However, data from oil tanker tracking websites now reveal that Trump has failed in his oil war against Iran.

 

According to a report by Kpler and data from the tanker tracking firm Vortexa—which U.S. media outlets have refrained from publishing—Iran’s oil exports to China reached 1.8 million barrels per day in the first three weeks of June 2025.

 

This figure represents the highest level of Chinese oil imports from Iran in the history of their energy relations and marks a 46% increase compared to May 2025.

Failed U.S. Sanctions Strategy

This surge has occurred despite repeated statements from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bassant, who said in a February 2025 interview with Fox Business:

 

“The Trump administration’s goal is to reduce Iran’s oil exports to 100,000 barrels per day—just 10% of the current level—to push Iran’s economy into deep crisis.”

Why Are Exports Increasing Despite Sanctions?

More than 40 small refineries—operating outside the dollar-based financial system and conducting transactions in yuan—have increased their purchases of Iranian oil to refill strategic reserves.

 

Other key factors include the use of untraceable tankers, rerouted trade routes, and ship-to-ship (STS) transfers.

 

Iran has also boosted its export capacity by fully selling off its floating oil reserves, which previously amounted to 60 million barrels.

AI Revolutionizes Iran’s Oil Industry. Social media/ WANA News Agency

The 1.8 million barrels per day milestone not only exposes the stark gap between American claims and the operational reality, but also reflects the ineffectiveness of over 600 oil sanctions imposed on Iran. Analysts credit this success to Iran’s nontraditional financial networks and its strategic cooperation with Asian partners, especially China.

 

This sharp increase in exports comes despite repeated threats by the U.S. Treasury over the past five months to impose sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil.

 

Analysts now openly state: “The sanctions regime has collapsed.”