Iran struggling to stay afloat against US economic pressures, blockade

Key Points:

• Iran's economy is under severe strain due to the US naval blockade and economic sanctions, with oil exports hitting historic lows for seven consecutive weeks, according to senior Iranian officials.
• Oil shipments have plummeted from 2 million barrels per day during the March peak to about 250,000 barrels per day in August, indicating the effectiveness of the renewed US blockade in cutting off Iran's main revenue source.
• The US Navy has intercepted 86 commercial ships attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports, further tightening the blockade, while Iran relies on tens of millions of barrels stored in tankers outside the blockade zone, which cannot be replenished once sold.
• Iran's financial situation is worsened by high inflation and the devaluation of the rial, limiting its ability to pay premiums needed to evade sanctions, with a total of 107 million barrels believed to be afloat but at risk due to the blockade.
• US Treasury Secretary has pledged to intensify economic pressure on Iran, targeting assets including those linked to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, aiming to force Iran into a peace deal with the Trump administration.