Good week, friends
Interesting updates are coming to us from the Iranian sector
Let's start with a report from Axios regarding the passages in the Strait of Hormuz
In recent weeks, platforms tracking passages in the Strait of Hormuz show a very low level of activity, concentrated mainly on Iranian passage with almost zero activity in the Omani passage area
But what if these figures are misleading?
And that's exactly what Axios claims, citing senior American officials
These rumors began on August 19 with an Axios report that the United States is conducting a quiet military operation to move ships every night through the Omani passage
According to the report, as part of this operation, the Americans move an average of about 20 ships every night under heavy military escort and with transponders turned off
To illustrate the scale, it's important to understand that this involves the passage of about 10 million barrels on average every night – 50% of the daily average before the war!
This update became more dramatic last Friday, when Axios reported a dramatic acceleration in the American operation:
According to reports, last Friday night no less than 40 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz, carrying no less than 16 million barrels of oil – 50% above the daily average!
In the last 24 hours, the American Secretary of Energy confirmed this on his official X account!
Estimates now speak of 660 million barrels that have passed through the strait since May.
This aligns perfectly with Trump's posts and statements that the Strait of Hormuz 'is now an American asset'
But that's not all.
Videos and photos emerging from the United Arab Emirates over the weekend show accelerated construction of 'protective cages' around strategic oil facilities in the Emirates.
These are cages built from steel, which can easily withstand drone attacks of any kind.
And again, we just have a small question: the construction of these cages has been ongoing for four months, and only now are the videos leaking online?
We have a small feeling that this is a very deliberate leak, with a very clear message to the Iranians: your bargaining power is diminishing.
But that's not all – over the past week, the United Arab Emirates issued a dramatic update that largely went unnoticed by most people
The United Arab Emirates announced the severance of all economic ties with Iran.
Why is this so dramatic?
Because a huge amount of Iranian money is held in banks in the Emirates, and a very significant portion of Iranian imports comes from the Emirates
All of this disappears in an instant
If you think that's all – it's not – last weekend, 'suddenly' voices of peace emerged from Iran, with two super senior figures in Iran, the President and the Speaker of Parliament, both emphatically calling for an end to the conflict and an immediate peace agreement.
The reason?
The Iranian people are becoming hungry for bread...
Additionally, Trump announced that he is expected to impose the most severe sanctions in history on Iran.
According to recent reports, this coming Monday, the American Secretary of the Treasury is expected to hold a press conference and announce a series of sanctions that will leave Iran utterly destitute!
The goal is to isolate not only Iran, but everyone who keeps Iran economically alive.
Banks, refineries, shipping companies, insurers, port operators, commodity traders, payment networks, and foreign governments will face a difficult choice: continue to serve Tehran or maintain access to the dollar system, American markets, and global capital.
This is the new twist.
Iran has survived sanctions for decades through shadow banking, shell companies, tankers with reflagged identities, disguised cargoes, unofficial payment channels, and oil sales laundered through third countries.
The Trump-Bancroft plan seeks to close these escape valves by focusing on the commercial ecosystem that converts Iranian oil into usable hard currency.
A very interesting week ahead of us