BroadChain, April 27, 06:06, according to BeInCrypto, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday refuted US claims about energy leverage advantages, stating that Tehran still holds unused supply cards, with oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz declining by approximately 95% from normal levels. Ghalibaf compared the stalemate to a supply-demand game, warning that US summer gasoline demand will exacerbate domestic price pressures.
Ghalibaf outlined a supply-demand balance sheet: Iran's side involves the Strait of Hormuz (partially utilized), the Bab el-Mandeb Strait (unused), and regional pipelines (unused); the US side has already tapped into its Strategic Petroleum Reserve and absorbed some demand destruction. He sarcastically remarked that unless the US cancels summer vacations, the bill will fall on gas stations. Goldman Sachs data shows that oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz have plunged by about 95%, Gulf crude oil daily output has dropped by approximately 14.5 million barrels (57%) from pre-war levels, and available empty tanker capacity has halved. Goldman Sachs warns that even if the strait reopens, only 70% of supply losses can be recovered within three months, and 88% within six months, while prolonged shutdowns may damage oil wells, requiring several quarters for recovery.
US President Donald Trump denied that the US lacks leverage, claiming that US oil production exceeds the combined output of Russia and Saudi Arabia, and that the US rarely imports through the Strait of Hormuz. He urged Chinese and European buyers to turn to US producers and warned voters that gasoline prices may remain high, potentially rising even before the midterm elections. Brent crude continues to trade near $100 per barrel, with the market sensitive to any further escalation or inflation transmission. Whether Iran uses its remaining cards will determine oil price trends during the US summer driving season.