Iran's oil revenue surges, energy policy researcher says "In fact, the US is begging Iran to sell oil."

Since the outbreak of the war, Iran has likely gained billions of dollars in additional revenue from oil sales, as its oil prices have soared significantly after becoming the only major exporting country able to transport crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Since the outbreak of the war, Iran has benefited greatly from oil price fluctuations. Its flagship crude oil variety is currently being sold to customers at the lowest discount to Brent crude in over 10 months. Furthermore, since the airstrikes began, this international benchmark oil price has also soared to over $100 per barrel. It is estimated that Iran's exports this month are still maintained at around the pre-war level of approximately 1.6 million barrels per day. Ships carrying Iranian crude oil continue to load at Kharg Island terminals and sail out of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz - recent related activities are accelerating. "The Trump administration is actually begging Iran to sell oil," said Richard Nephew, a senior researcher at the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy. He previously served as Deputy Special Envoy for Iran and Coordinator for Sanctions Policy at the U.S. Department of State. "I originally thought that stopping Iran's oil sales should have been a priority for the United States."