Kharg Island, Iran's oil export hub [Photo courtesy of AFP=Yonhap News]

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on the 14th (local time) that he believes Iran's oil storage facilities are already full due to the U.S. blockade of Iranian vessels.

In an interview with U.S. business news channel CNBC on the same day, Bessent stated this, noting that there had been no crude oil shipments from Kharg Island, Iran's largest oil export terminal, for the past three days.

"As ships are unable to leave or enter, offshore storage is also impossible," he said. "Iran will eventually begin to halt oil production. Satellite imagery shows this is happening."

However, maritime intelligence firm Windward stated on the same day that a Panamax-class tanker was loading crude oil from Kharg Island. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that this is the first confirmed oil shipment from Kharg Island since May 7th.

Windward said it had captured images of the vessel docked at the eastern terminal of Kharg Island and had also identified approximately 20 "shadow fleet" tankers in a nearby waiting area with their location signals turned off.

A Panamax-class tanker can load approximately 400,000 to 550,000 barrels of crude oil.

Meanwhile, Bessent said that China is showing interest in increasing its energy purchases from the U.S. in response to disruptions in Middle Eastern oil supply.

He mentioned that the U.S. plans to increase its oil and natural gas (LNG) production in Alaska, adding that Alaska is a suitable location for China to import energy given its geographical accessibility.

"Not only China but countries around the world will diversify their energy sources away from their dependence on the Middle East to secure more stable energy supplies, and there is no better alternative than the United States," he emphasized.