The Trump administration has isolated Tehran's energy exports through a maritime campaign in the Persian Gulf to force diplomatic concessions from the Iranian government. Crude loading onto tankers fell to zero during the previous month as the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz took full effect, which Bloomberg reported as a laest indication that the pressure campaign is working to sever the regime's primary revenue stream.

Approximately 20 empty oil tankers are currently drifting about 15 miles off Sri Lanka’s southwest coast with critical shortages of food, fuel, and fresh water. US officials have pressured local ships and suppliers to stop provisioning the vessels, which have been stuck in Asian waters since July, under the threat of sanctions. A Kpler oil analyst forecasts that all Iranian oil revenues will drop to zero by December.