Reuters, in a report about a new round of U.S. pressure on the Islamic Republic, wrote that Iran’s government economy is currently under severe pressure from sanctions, and new sanctions from Washington could increase this pressure. The importance of these actions lies in their possible impact on the Islamic Republic’s main trading partners, especially China; a country that, based on 2025 Kpler data, buys more than 80% of the Islamic Republic’s exported oil by sea.

According to this report, the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important levers in the standoff between the two sides. The movement of oil tankers has dropped sharply, and regional countries are also seeking alternative routes. Despite the extensive damage to the Islamic Republic’s naval and air forces, Reuters assessed that Tehran still has sufficient missile and drone capability to disrupt the passage of oil tankers and attack regional rivals.