The flow of smuggled Iranian crude into regional markets has contracted sharply, with sources indicating a 60% decline in illicit shipments.
The drop follows a wave of targeted attacks in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, where six tankers were destroyed over a 45-day period, inflicting heavy losses on smuggling operators.
This disruption in informal supply channels comes at a critical juncture for global energy markets.
While the US has recently suspended sanctions on Iranian oil and issued a 60-day general license permitting international sales, the physical infrastructure for moving that crude remains under pressure.
The destruction of tankers in Balochistan highlights the persistent security risks that complicate Iran’s reintegration into formal trade routes.
For traders, the divergence between policy easing and physical supply constraints is key.