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I’ve seen that too. It’s still much more limited than the fully open Straight.
I have been following this closely and was wondering given the boasts from Central Command that volumes going through the Strait had returned to higher levels than before the war yet Iran seemed to not be doing anything much to stop these alleged flows - the likelihood that Iran have been collecting fees for safe passage would explain a lot...and is supported by the comments from industry insiders.
It is even possible that some Iranian oil is getting through 'under US protection' using the other gulf states shuttle tankers.
The entire gulf is sick to death of the US coming in a supporting Israels Greater Israel expansion and genocide and may be much better off with a regional consortium managing their own security and the US petrodollar empire butting out.
But the problem for Trump is if the US loses its petrodollar hegemony-extraordinary privilege USA and its citizens will swiftly be insolvent.
So there is an unholy alliance, for now at least, between the Zionists criminal land grabbing Greater Israel agenda genocide and a declining petrodollar empire clinging to its trade routes and payments protocols hegemony.
Gas prices certainly aren’t back to pre-blockade levels, so I remain skeptical.
China was playing a major role in holding prices down because they do not want wider global demand for their products to decline but apparently they are now not so prepared to continue that role.
This article explains some of the logic behind it.
Another example of the strategic importance of state directed planning in a competitive world.
How Xi Jinping Turned Oil From a Weakness Into a Geopolitical Weapon
https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-oil-market-edf57588
Full article free of paywall-
https://archive.ph/2qbzz
Before the U.S. attacked Iran, Beijing spent years and tens of billions of dollars amassing the world’s biggest stockpile of oil. Now, with the conflict likely to last for some time, those reserves have given China huge power over the global oil market—and a critical new defense against the West.
By some estimates, China’s reserves last year were nearly 600 million barrels bigger than those in the U.S. That stockpile allowed it to dramatically slash its oil imports when the war broke out, keeping a lid on global oil prices and safeguarding its own economy.
It has been a major vindication for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who has sought to buttress China against what he sees as a hostile U.S.-led West. For decades, Chinese leaders have worried about the country’s heavy reliance on imported crude, most of which transits through straits that the U.S. or other militaries could seek to block in a conflict.
Now, the Iran crisis has demonstrated that China’s muscular energy policy has afforded Beijing a major tool it could use, for instance, in a war over Taiwan.
The Iran war shows that “against the backdrop of the world entering a new period of turbulence and transformation, localized regional conflicts are no longer confined to a specific locale,” researchers at a think tank under state-owned China National Petroleum wrote this spring. “China’s energy sector must maintain bottom-line and extreme-scenario thinking.”
Crisis management
China’s stockpiles, combined with its quicker-than-expected shift away from fossil fuels, are making it the most powerful swing buyer in global energy markets. It has slashed imports aggressively, which has prevented crude prices from jumping higher. Chinese crude oil imports fell 23% from March to July versus a year earlier.
As the crisis in Iran unfolded, in China, “almost from day one there was this sense that, ‘We are able to manage this. We don’t need to panic,’ ” said Erica Downs, a scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy....
To be sure, analysts and economists say China, which relied on imports for 70% of its crude oil supply before the war, can’t keep imports this low forever. The longer that flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain constrained, the more officials will have to balance economic growth with ensuring oil stockpiles don’t fall too much. But they disagree on when China will start buying more crude, and how much.
Mind you China is screaming over its oil reserves that are now in critical levels while the U.S. government levels are low but the company levels and near record highs. Starting in January those record highs are being added to the government reserves as the drawdown on average had companies returning 1.2 barrels for ever 1 barrel taken out.
Are you serious???
Did you read the article or even the short part of it I posted above ???
Here it is again for you- try reading before shooting ill-informed and utter nonsense from the hip.
'Before the U.S. attacked Iran, Beijing spent years and tens of billions of dollars amassing the world’s biggest stockpile of oil. Now, with the conflict likely to last for some time, those reserves have given China huge power over the global oil market—and a critical new defense against the West.
By some estimates, China’s reserves last year were nearly 600 million barrels bigger than those in the U.S. That stockpile allowed it to dramatically slash its oil imports when the war broke out, keeping a lid on global oil prices and safeguarding its own economy.
It has been a major vindication for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who has sought to buttress China against what he sees as a hostile U.S.-led West. For decades, Chinese leaders have worried about the country’s heavy reliance on imported crude, most of which transits through straits that the U.S. or other militaries could seek to block in a conflict.
Now, the Iran crisis has demonstrated that China’s muscular energy policy has afforded Beijing a major tool it could use, for instance, in a war over Taiwan.'
Get it yet?
Try dealing with reality before spouting off your absurd beltway coolaid nonsense.
Conclusion-
Chinas massive oil reserve stockpiles have hugely reduced the cost and shock to the global markets from Trumps illegal invasion of Iran.
China may now be tiring of providing endless ballast to the reckless US adventurism that Trump has engaged in under the influence of Zionist war criminals.
Trump may have thought he could cut off Chinas energy supplies and make a deal- just like he thought imposing absurd tariffs might work- in both cases he has failed because China has set in place the strategies requires to weather such imperialist adventurist bullying.
China could always opt to get its vassal state of Iran under control. They exploit the hell out of sanctions to get dirt-cheap oil and cut deals that circumvent sanctions. Crazy idea I know but since they want to be a super power so bad sometimes you actually have to act like it.... or you are just a paper tiger.... which also could be the case at this point.
The unilateral US imposed sanctions are not binding on any nation under inyernatyional law.
US is only able to impose them via unlawful threats and bullying - unlawful threats and bullying which China is standing up against because they can respond with equal force.
'You want refined rare earths for your war crimes? You cannot have them.'
Oh and shame on China for using its strategic advantage to its economic advantage - gaining both discount energy imports and a near captive market for its manufactured goods (including drone parts) ...because USA unlawfully sanctioned Iran!?
Bad China! Poor USA!
FFS!
Whats good for the goose is good for the gander.
The gross self serving hypocrisy of US Exceptionalism deserves to get a taste of its own medicine, with compound interest.
But the problem for Trump is if the US loses its petrodollar hegemony-extraordinary privilege USA and its citizens will swiftly be insolvent.
The US has zero problems. We have the moral high ground. Communism is evil.
You can deny reality, but that does not change reality.
Without the petrodollar extraordinary privilege USA is Broke.
The Zionist parasites are bleeding you dry.
Suez - Hormuz = End of Empire.
So there ARE tankers transiting Hormuz now? Where's the evidence for that? Not challenging, just curious.