Kharg Island Oil Jetties Empty in Sign of Iran Strain

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  May 13, 2026 at 15:03  |  1:04  |  Bloomberg Markets
Speakers
Stuart Livingstone-Wallace — Bloomberg Executive Editor for Middle East, North Africa, and Russia

Summary

Bloomberg reports that satellite imagery shows no oil tankers loading at Iran's Kharg Island terminal for three days, an unprecedented halt since the conflict began. Storage tanks appear to be filling up, indicating potential export disruptions. The report speculates that a U.S. naval blockade may be affecting Iran's ability to export oil.

  • Kharg Island oil terminal saw no tanker loadings on May 8, 9, and 11.
  • Satellite imagery analysis by Bloomberg journalist Julian Lee shows the halt is unprecedented.
  • Shadows from storage tanks suggest they are filling up, reducing available storage.
  • The combined signals indicate Iran may be running out of export capacity.
  • The development could be linked to U.S. naval blockade effectiveness.
  • Potential for oil supply tightness if the trend persists.
Up Next