Iran has continued to export crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz despite heightened tensions and reduced maritime traffic in the region, according to a report by CNN.

The report noted that if the United States had assumed Iran would avoid disrupting the vital oil route due to its own export dependence, that calculation proved inaccurate.

“If the United States assumed, before attacking Iran, that the major oil producer would be reluctant to close the Strait of Hormuz for fear of blocking its own oil exports, it miscalculated,” CNN said.

Traffic through the strategic waterway, which accounts for a 20 per cent portion of the global oil supply, has dropped sharply since the escalation of the Middle East conflict.

“Traffic through the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil output normally flows, has been severely curtailed since the start of the latest Middle East conflict,” the report stated.

The situation has been further complicated by attacks on vessels operating in the region.

At least 16 vessels in the region were said to have been struck by drones or other weapons, with Iran claiming responsibility for some of the attacks.

Despite the disruption, Iran has maintained near-normal export levels, bolstering its revenue streams amid ongoing hostilities.

“But Iran itself is shipping oil through the strait in almost the same volumes as before the war, earning the much-needed cash to sustain its economy and war effort,” the report said.

It also highlighted that Iran had built up floating supplies prior to the conflict.

“In addition, there were already millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil at sea looking for buyers before the conflict began,” CNN noted.

Data from tanker tracking firms and satellite imagery indicate that Iranian crude continues to move through the strait even as exports from neighbouring countries have been affected.

“Tanker tracking data and satellite images show that Iranian crude has flowed through the strait even as the conflict has crippled exports of crude and natural gas from nearby Persian Gulf countries,” the report stated.

According to energy analytics firm Kpler, Iran has exported significant volumes since the conflict began.

“Energy analysts at trade data and analytics company Kpler estimated Thursday that Iran had been able to export 12 million barrels since the conflict began on 28 February,” CNN reported.

Maritime intelligence company TankerTrackers gave a higher estimate, saying 13.7 million barrels had been exported as of the middle of last week.

The figures suggest that Iran’s daily exports remain substantial, though slightly below previous levels.

Those figures would suggest that Iran is managing to ship about one million barrels per day. That compares with its average exports of 1.69 million bpd last year, according to Kpler’s data.

Crude oil prices remained above $100 per barrel as United States President Donald Trump and NATO allies differed on the struggle to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for vessels transporting oil.

Trump on Tuesday said the United States had been informed by most of its NATO allies that they did not want to get involved with the country’s military operation in Iran, a move he described as a “very foolish mistake”.

According to Reuters, Trump said NATO countries were supportive of the joint US-Israeli war, which has now entered its third week, even though they did not want to get involved.

“I think NATO is making a very foolish mistake. Everyone agrees with us, but they don’t want to help. And we, you know, we as the United States have to remember that because we think it’s pretty shocking,” he added.

It was recalled that the president in the past had threatened to withdraw the United States from NATO but did not bring that up on Tuesday.

Trump had, on Monday, called on nations to help police the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil is transported, after Iran responded to US-Israeli attacks by using drones, missiles and mines to effectively close the channel for tankers.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz led to a sharp rise in oil prices from the pre-war rate of $65 to $103 as of Tuesday.

But several US allies said on Monday they had no immediate plans to send ships to help unblock the strait, effectively rebuffing Trump’s plea for military support.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that “Because of the fact that we have had such military success, we no longer ‘need’, or desire, the NATO countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID!” He said as he singled out Japan, Australia and South Korea.

Iran had said the Strait of Hormuz remained open but not for its enemies.

Analysts opined that until the strait is reopened for all vessels, prices of oil and other goods would continue to rise.