Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Trump Says Hormuz Oil Flows Surge as Iran Minister Resigns
Donald Trump said that millions of barrels of oil had recently passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
He said the amount was as high as, or sometimes higher than, before the conflict.
Data cited by Al Jazeera showed Gulf oil flows excluding Iran had recovered to more than 81% of prewar levels in September.
Trump also said Iran's oil minister quit because Iran had no economy or oil.
Iran's presidency confirmed that Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad had resigned.
President Masoud Pezeshkian accepted the resignation and named Hamid Bovard to lead the ministry for now.
No official reason for Paknejad's resignation was given.
Press TV cited reports suggesting possible disagreements and dissatisfaction over the handling of oil-export trustees.
Donald Trump said millions of barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the previous couple of days.
Trump said flows were at or sometimes above prewar levels; Kpler data cited by Al Jazeera put Gulf flows excluding Iran above 81% of prewar levels in September.
Trump attributed Iran's oil minister's resignation to the country's economic and oil situation, but no official reason was given.
President Masoud Pezeshkian accepted Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad's resignation and appointed Hamid Bovard as caretaker.
Press TV cited reports suggesting possible disagreements with Pezeshkian and dissatisfaction over Paknejad's handling of oil-export trustees.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump; Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad; President Masoud Pezeshkian; and caretaker minister Hamid Bovard.
- What
- Trump described recent oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz as millions of barrels and said Iran's oil minister had quit; Iran confirmed the resignation and named a caretaker.
- When
- Trump spoke on Tuesday local time; the decree accepting Paknejad's resignation was issued on Sunday.
- Where
- Trump spoke outside the White House; the oil-flow remarks concerned the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf exports.
- Why
- No official reason for Paknejad's resignation was stated. Press TV cited reports suggesting possible disagreements and dissatisfaction.
Trump's explanation
Official information and reported possibilities
Why the oil minister resigned
Trump's explanation
Trump said Paknejad quit because Iran had no economy and no oil.
Official information and reported possibilities
Iran gave no official reason. Press TV cited reports suggesting possible disagreements with Pezeshkian, interventions at PGPIC, or dissatisfaction over the handling of oil-export trustees.
Oil flows through Hormuz
Trump's explanation
Trump said millions of barrels had passed through recently at levels matching or sometimes exceeding those before the conflict.
Official information and reported possibilities
Kpler data cited by Al Jazeera showed Gulf flows excluding Iran had recovered to more than 81% of prewar levels in September; wider Middle East crude exports exceeded prewar levels on 14 days that month.
- Trump's reported oil-flow timeframe
- The previous couple of days
- Trump's description of Hormuz flows
- Millions of barrels; at or sometimes above prewar levels, according to Trump
- Gulf oil flows excluding Iran
- More than 81% of prewar levels in September, according to Kpler data cited by Al Jazeera
- Wider Middle East crude exports
- Exceeded prewar levels on 14 days during September, according to Kpler data cited by Al Jazeera
- Resigning oil minister
- Mohsen Paknejad
- Caretaker oil minister
- Hamid Bovard, CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company
- Official resignation reason
- Not stated
- Reported possible reasons
- Press TV cited reports of possible disagreements with Pezeshkian and dissatisfaction over Paknejad's handling of oil-export trustees
