Ships anchored and stopped in the Strait of Hormuz [AP=Yonhap News photo]

Iran, whose crude oil export routes have been blocked by a US maritime blockade, is resorting to extreme measures to maintain its oil production, the US daily Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 27th (local time).

Citing current and former Iranian officials, the WSJ reported that Iran's domestic crude oil storage tanks are filling up as the US military intercepts empty oil tankers entering Iranian ports and prevents export vessels from departing.

While oil tankers are already being used as "floating warehouses" to avoid production cuts, even these are now insufficient, leading Iran to employ unprecedented methods.

Officials stated that Iran is storing crude oil not only in containers but also in "abandoned tanks" that were in poor condition, in its southern crude oil production and logistics hubs such as Ahvaz and Assaluyeh.

Even rail transport, which is usually avoided due to its lower profitability and efficiency, is being utilized for transportation.

A spokesperson for Iran's Oil Export Union stated that Iran is attempting to transport crude oil to China by rail.