Iran exported more than 80 million barrels of oil and refined petroleum products worth over $6 billion during the brief period between the lifting and reimposition of U.S. sanctions, giving Tehran several additional months of economic breathing room, according to new data released Tuesday.

Research firm TankerTrackers.com reported that between June 18 and July 13, Iran shipped the massive volume of oil to foreign buyers, taking advantage of the temporary sanctions-free window before restrictions snapped back into place.

As negotiations with the West deteriorated last week, Iran reportedly accelerated exports even further. On the night of July 8-9 alone, more than 10 million barrels were shipped abroad.

The renewed U.S. sanctions took effect on July 13, ending the export surge and leaving an estimated 30 million barrels stranded in Iranian storage facilities.

The unexpected oil revenue has altered previous assessments of Iran’s economic outlook. Intelligence officials had reportedly estimated that Tehran could face severe economic distress as early as August, but the latest export windfall is expected to extend the regime’s financial resilience by several more months.

Iran is also believed to have approximately 60 million barrels of floating storage capacity that remains vulnerable to the renewed sanctions.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)