On Tuesday, May 19, state media outlets of the Islamic Republic claimed that Iran has commenced oil loading operations from the port of Jask in Hormozgan Province, a route that Tehran describes as a way to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and sustain oil exports in the event of losing Kharg Island.
According to this claim, the loading is being carried out via the Golestan-Jask pipeline, which has a daily transmission capacity of one million barrels of oil and can store up to ten million barrels in its storage tanks. This pipeline route runs entirely through Iranian territory and does not rely on the Strait of Hormuz.
State-run media characterized the move as a sign of the “continuation of sustainable oil production” and presented it as an alternative to Kharg Island, ensuring that a second terminal for oil sales remains active if Kharg is lost.
This claim is being put forward under conditions in which a naval blockade of Iran has been underway since April 13, 2026, encompassing all of the country’s ports and coastal zones in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Under this blockade plan, the entry and exit of ships to Iranian ports have been halted, and any maritime traffic linked to Iran’s trade has been restricted. Meanwhile, reports have also surfaced regarding a potential U.S. effort to seize Kharg Island.
