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Oil exports through Strait of Hormuz near prewar levels as Iran war continues

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 14 outlets across the spectrum.

31 articles in total, 6 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Crude oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz have risen sharply in September, with estimates ranging from roughly 72% to 98% of prewar levels, according to analysts at JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and tracking firm Kpler. The increase comes seven months into the US-Iran war, with American forces continuing to provide protection for tankers transiting the strait. Fuel product shipments, such as diesel and gasoline, remain more constrained than crude flows. Inside Iran, sanctions and the blockade have contributed to shortages and rising prices for food and medicine. Iranian officials say they received a US counterproposal on a ceasefire and phased reopening of the strait, days after President Trump said he had rejected an earlier Iranian plan.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Crude oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz have risen toward prewar levels in September, though estimates of the exact percentage vary by source (ranging from about 72% to 98%).

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs both released estimates showing a rebound in Middle East oil flows.

    Reported byLeft

  3. Fuel product shipments like diesel and gasoline remain well below prewar levels even as crude flows recover.

    Reported byLeftCenter

  4. Iran is experiencing shortages and rising prices for food and medicine due to sanctions and the blockade.

    Reported byLeftCenter

  5. Iranian officials say the US delivered a counterproposal on a ceasefire and phased reopening of the strait.

    Reported byLeftRight

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. President Trump said he had rejected an earlier Iranian ceasefire proposal.

    Reported byLeft

  2. The war has continued for roughly seven months (described as Day 215 by one outlet).

    Reported byRight

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The exact percentage of oil export recovery compared to prewar levels

    The New York Post cites just over 72%, the Financial Times cites more than 80%, and Bloomberg cites JPMorgan's estimate of 98% alongside a separate Goldman Sachs estimate of 23.3 million barrels a day, roughly in line with 2025 averages.

  • Whether Iran is losing strategic leverage over the Strait of Hormuz

    TheBlaze and the Washington Times present Iran's weakening control as largely established, with the Washington Times noting ‘some speculate’ Iran is losing leverage, while Al Jazeera frames the question as open and unresolved.

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    5 outlets

    Left-side outlets split between financial-market reporting on oil flow data and humanitarian/diplomatic coverage of shortages and ceasefire talks.

    Oil Flows Are Up, but Iran Is Still Menacing the Strait of Hormuz
    The New York TimesLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    4 outlets

    Center outlets report the oil export recovery as an economic data story, often noting its dependence on continued US military protection.

    Three reasons Middle East oil supply is nearly back to pre-Iran war levels
    BBC NewsCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    5 outlets · 4 opinion

    Right-side outlets, including a far-right outlet, frame the export recovery as evidence that Iran is losing control of the strait and leverage in the war, more strongly than mainstream right coverage.

    Glimmers of Hope in the Hormuz?
    The American ConservativeRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left2

    draconian sanctionsfears of new US fighting grow

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right13

    choking on fumesIranian regimestrangleholdenergy blackmail

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    choking on fumesMore neutral: struggling economically

    Uses a dramatic metaphor to describe Iran's economic state rather than a factual description.

    The oil is flowing again in the Persian Gulf — even as Iran is choking on fumes.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    draconian sanctionsMore neutral: expanded sanctions

    Characterizes the sanctions as excessively harsh rather than describing their scope factually.

    But a US naval blockade and pivot to draconian sanctions have led to fears that imports will be limited.

    Used byAl Jazeera English (Left)

  • Vague attribution

    fears of new US fighting growMore neutral: amid concerns about escalation

    Attributes a rising sense of fear to an unspecified group without naming a source.

    Iranians stock up on food and medicine as fears of new US fighting grow

    Used byAl Jazeera English (Left)

  • Delegitimizing label

    Iranian regimeMore neutral: Iranian government

    Uses a term implying illegitimacy for Iran's government rather than a neutral descriptor.

    Crude oil exports in the Middle East rebounded in September as the Iranian regime continued to lose its control over the Strait of Hormuz.

    Used byTheBlaze (Far Right)

Show 11 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded modifier

    strangleholdMore neutral: control

    Describes Iran's control over the strait with a dramatic term implying illegitimate force rather than neutral description.

    Iran's stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz continues to erode — and crude oil exports are rebounding

    Used byTheBlaze (Far Right)

  • Partisan shorthand

    energy blackmailMore neutral: Iran's leverage over oil exports

    Labels Iran's control over oil exports with a loaded term implying coercion or criminality.

    Oil shipments from the Gulf are now approaching prewar levels, ending the energy blackmail — even as Tehran’s resources dwindle, pushing the regime ever closer to having to…

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Delegitimizing label

    the regimeMore neutral: the Iranian government

    Refers to Iran's government with a term implying illegitimacy rather than a neutral descriptor.

    …levels, ending the energy blackmail — even as Tehran’s resources dwindle, pushing the regime ever closer to having to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    “Iran is stronger now” crowdMore neutral: those who argued Iran had gained strength

    Dismisses those holding an opposing view by labeling them a dismissive collective term.

    President Donald Trump’s resolve is paying off, proving the “Iran is stronger now” crowd to be completely wrong.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    a win for the worldMore neutral: a shift in the oil market

    Presents a subjective political judgment as an established, universal fact.

    Trump is proving that Iran CAN’T control the global oil supply — a win for the world

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Absolutist framing

    Time is not on Iran’s sideMore neutral: Iran faces increasing pressure over time

    States a contested strategic judgment as an established fact.

    Time is not on Iran’s side.

    Used byThe Free Press (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Encouraging SignsMore neutral: Recent developments

    Frames the development with a positive evaluative judgment rather than a neutral description.

    Encouraging Signs from the Strait of Hormuz

    Used byNational Review (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Dramatic price risesMore neutral: Significant price rises

    The word ‘dramatic’ adds rhetorical emphasis to price increases without citing specific figures.

    Dramatic price rises have disrupted the global economy and upended politics worldwide, including in…

    Used byHot Air (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    upended politics worldwideMore neutral: affected politics worldwide

    ‘Upended’ dramatizes the political effect beyond a neutral description of change.

    Dramatic price rises have disrupted the global economy and upended politics worldwide, including in the United States.

    Used byHot Air (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    squeezeMore neutral: strain

    ‘Squeeze’ frames the economic pressure in dramatic terms rather than describing the effect plainly.

    …patients and their families scrambling as a US blockade and stepped-up sanctions squeeze the country’s pharmaceutical industry.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    skyrocketMore neutral: rise sharply

    ‘Skyrocket’ amplifies the scale of price increases beyond a neutral description.

    Medication prices skyrocket in Iran as US blockade, sanctions hit hard

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

Words quoted from someone else (4)Hide the quoted words

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

  • Loaded modifier

    Quoted

    exhaustedMore neutral: weakened

    Presents a US official's characterization of Iran's condition as a settled fact in the headline, though it is quoted.

    Persian Gulf oil exports hit 72% of prewar levels — as US says Iran is ‘exhausted’ by blockade

    Quoted byNew York Post (Right)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

  • Sensational language

    Quoted

    kill Americans and others around the worldMore neutral: harm Americans and others

    A dramatic quoted claim about Iran's intentions presented without qualification.

    …them from getting access to money that they will use to try and kill Americans and others around the world and their own people.' The report said crude oil exports from the…

    Quoted byTheBlaze (Far Right)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

  • Absolutist framing

    Quoted

    Fully Recover to 2025 LevelsMore neutral: Gulf Oil Exports Near 2025 Levels

    Presents a contested, partial recovery as a complete, settled fact in the headline.

    In Today's News: Gulf Oil Exports 'Fully Recover to 2025 Levels'

    Quoted byHot Air (Far Right)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

  • Partisan shorthand

    Quoted

    the Trump strategy just might be workingMore neutral: according to one analyst, the shift may reflect recent U.S. policy

    Credits a specific political strategy for a market outcome in a way that takes a side on contested policy effectiveness.

    The Strait of Hormuz is open and the Trump strategy just might be working, according to CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean.

    Quoted byCBS News (Left)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

5 outlets

Leads with

  • market and investor data (JPMorgan, Goldman)
  • humanitarian impact of shortages
  • diplomatic developments on a ceasefire

Leaves out

  • Specific US military role in protecting tanker traffic
  • Claims that Iran is losing strategic leverage

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 5 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

4 outlets

Leads with

  • precise export percentages and tanker data
  • sustainability of the recovery
  • medicine price increases in Iran

Leaves out

  • Diplomatic ceasefire counterproposal reported by other sides

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 4 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • BBC NewsCenter

    Three reasons Middle East oil supply is nearly back to pre-Iran war levels

    Experts say US military assistance, using shuttle tankers and pipelines bypassing the Strait of Hormuz mean exports have rebounded.

    Read at BBC News (opens in a new tab)
  • CNBCCenter

    Crude oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz hit prewar levels, but fuel shipments remain constrained

    It is unclear how long the recovery can be sustained given that it relies on U.S. military protecting tankers in the Persian Gulf.

    Read at CNBC (opens in a new tab)
  • France 24Center

    Medicine prices soar in Iran as US blockade and sanctions hit hard

    Medication prices are soaring in Iran and some treatments have become hard to find, leaving patients and their families scrambling as a US blockade and stepped-up sanctions squeeze the country's pharmaceuticals industry.

    Read at France 24 (opens in a new tab)
  • Financial TimesCenter

    Middle Eastern oil exports rise to highest level since Iran war began

    Shuttle services through Strait of Hormuz have brought shipments to more than 80% of prewar daily average

    Read at Financial Times (opens in a new tab)

From the right

5 outlets · 4 opinion

Leads with

  • Iran's declining leverage or control
  • US protection enabling shipping
  • war's duration and ongoing negotiations

Leaves out

  • Humanitarian shortages inside Iran
  • Fuel product shipments lagging behind crude recovery

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 10 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    15 hr 23 min later

    Its first report, Sep 29, 8:32 AM EDT

  • Center

    19 hr 38 min later

    Its first report, Sep 29, 12:46 PM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    New York Post, Sep 28, 5:09 PM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. New York PostRightSep 28, 5:09 PM EDT
  2. Al Jazeera EnglishLeftSep 29, 8:32 AM EDT
  3. Financial TimesCenterSep 29, 12:46 PM EDT
  4. The Washington TimesRightSep 29, 3:19 PM EDT
  5. TheBlazeFar RightSep 29, 5:35 PM EDT
  6. BloombergLeftSep 30, 1:24 AM EDT
  7. France 24CenterSep 30, 6:39 AM EDT
  8. CBS NewsLeftSep 30, 8:51 AM EDT
  9. The American ConservativeRightSep 30, 11:45 AM EDT
  10. CNBCCenterSep 30, 2:17 PM EDT
  11. The GuardianLeftOct 1, 11:52 AM EDT
  12. The New York TimesLeftOct 2, 12:01 AM EDT
  13. BBC NewsCenterOct 2, 11:29 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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