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Iran ships oil from forgotten Jask port amid Kharg threats

Source: thetimes.com

TL;DR

Iran ramps up oil exports from the little-used Jask port as a backup to Kharg Island amid US invasion threats.
Satellite images show two large tankers loaded about 4 million barrels at Jask last month, worth £330 million, with storage rising to 4.3 million barrels.
Jask provides redundancy for Iran's oil economy, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz and sustaining revenue to China even if Kharg is seized.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-oil-exports-forgotten-port-kharg-island-8w83nzb8s?utm_source=chatgpt.com)[[2]](https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-oil-exports-forgotten-port-kharg-island-8w83nzb8s)

The story at a glance

Satellite imagery reveals Iran shipping millions of barrels of oil from the previously idle Jask port, 95 miles east of the Strait of Hormuz, while attention focuses on Kharg Island. President Trump has threatened to seize Kharg, through which 90% of Iran's oil passes, after US airstrikes hit military targets there but spared oil facilities. Experts from Kpler and the Royal United Services Institute say this tests Jask as a plan B. The reporting comes amid the ongoing war, with extra US marines arriving and Iran's parliament speaker warning of retaliation.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-oil-exports-forgotten-port-kharg-island-8w83nzb8s?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Key points

Jask, opened in 2021, exported oil only once before the war (October 2024) but now shows increased storage from 3 million to 4.3 million barrels and recent tanker loadings.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-oil-exports-forgotten-port-kharg-island-8w83nzb8s?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Two very large crude carriers, including the sanctioned Iran-flagged Dore, loaded at Jask within 15 days last month; Dore reached Malaysia and is expected to transfer oil to China-bound ships.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-oil-exports-forgotten-port-kharg-island-8w83nzb8s?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Kharg handles 90% of Iran's exports with 7 million barrels per day capacity; exports there fell to 40% in mid-March but recovered after Iran added missile defences.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-oil-exports-forgotten-port-kharg-island-8w83nzb8s?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Jask's designed capacity is 1 million barrels a day but has never run at full levels until now; it lies 500 miles from Kharg, outside the Gulf.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-oil-exports-forgotten-port-kharg-island-8w83nzb8s?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
China buys 90% of Iran's oil, providing tens of billions in revenue; US is likely tracking Jask via satellites.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-oil-exports-forgotten-port-kharg-island-8w83nzb8s?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Details and context

Kharg Island remains Iran's main oil hub despite US strikes on its military sites in March, which Trump said "totally obliterated" targets but avoided oil infrastructure to pressure Tehran economically.[[3]](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c937gd1vq7xo)[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-oil-exports-forgotten-port-kharg-island-8w83nzb8s?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Iran has reinforced it with surface-to-air missiles as Trump weighs seizure, with US forces building up nearby.

Jask offers a bypass route, avoiding the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint and providing partial export continuity—better than nothing if Kharg is lost, per analysts. Pre-war, Jask sat mostly unused despite its build-out for bypass capability.

This move tests operational readiness at Jask amid war escalation, where oil funds much of Iran's budget.

Key quotes

“The Iranian economy is heavily dependent on crude oil exports. With this, they are trying to create a buffer and continue some revenue from exports,” said Petras Katinas of the Royal United Services Institute.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-oil-exports-forgotten-port-kharg-island-8w83nzb8s?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

“They’re testing the facilities in the event where they cannot use Kharg, they would use Jask. It would only be a partial replacement but better than zero,” said Homayoun Falakshahi of Kpler.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-oil-exports-forgotten-port-kharg-island-8w83nzb8s?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Why it matters

Iran's oil sales, mostly to China, sustain its war effort and economy, so alternatives like Jask blunt US pressure on Kharg. Businesses and investors face steadier supply risks, with potential for higher prices if escalation hits both ports, though Jask limits total shutdown. Watch US moves on Kharg invasion talk and satellite data on Jask volumes, which could signal if redundancy scales up.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-oil-exports-forgotten-port-kharg-island-8w83nzb8s?utm_source=chatgpt.com)