Iran acquires oil facilities in China to bypass US sanctions, leaked document shows
Published . Updated .
Key takeaways
- Iran is using oil terminals and storage facilities in China to keep sanctioned tankers operating despite US restrictions, according to a confidential document obtained by Iran International and information from Oil Ministry sources.
- Exposed: USO, XLE, KWEB, BWET, FXI
- Market reaction: price tracking starts with the next trading session.
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Iran is using oil terminals and storage facilities in China to keep sanctioned tankers operating despite US restrictions, according to a confidential document obtained by Iran International and information from Oil Ministry sources.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- USO United States Oil Fund
United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR
Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- BWET Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF
Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF: it tracks tanker freight rates. Linked by “tanker” (tanker shipping) in this story.
- KWEB KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF
KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF: it holds Chinese internet companies. Linked by “china” (Chinese tech) in this story.
- FXI iShares China Large-Cap ETF
iShares China Large-Cap ETF holds stocks listed in China, which this story is about (“china”).
- FRO Frontline
Frontline (deep sea foreign transportation of freight): tanker owners earn more when more crude has to move by sea. Linked by “tanker” (tanker shipping) in this story.
- DHT DHT Holdings
DHT Holdings (deep sea foreign transportation of freight): tanker owners earn more when more crude has to move by sea. Linked by “tanker” (tanker shipping) in this story.
- INSW International Seaways
International Seaways (water transportation): tanker owners earn more when more crude has to move by sea. Linked by “tanker” (tanker shipping) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USO | +5.62% | -2.06% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| XLE | +9.12% | +3.08% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| BWET | +35.08% | +5.02% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| KWEB | -6.11% | -2.23% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| FXI | -4.96% | -1.02% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| FRO | +14.63% | +6.76% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| DHT | +15.43% | +6.67% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| INSW | +7.59% | +1.40% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
Iran acquires oil facilities in China to bypass US sanctions, leaked document shows Iran International
Source: Iran International
Price since this story was published: United States Oil Fund (USO)
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amplify Commodity Trust (BWET) | three days earlier | +5.02% | final price |
| Amplify Commodity Trust (BWET) | five days earlier | +35.08% | final price |
| DHT | three days earlier | +6.67% | final price |
| DHT | five days earlier | +15.43% | final price |
| FRO | three days earlier | +6.76% | final price |
| FRO | five days earlier | +14.63% | final price |
| Ishares China Large-Cap Etf (FXI) | three days earlier | -1.02% | final price |
| Ishares China Large-Cap Etf (FXI) | five days earlier | -4.96% | final price |
| INSW | three days earlier | +1.40% | final price |
| INSW | five days earlier | +7.59% | final price |
| Kraneshares Csi China Internet Etf (KWEB) | three days earlier | -2.23% | final price |
| Kraneshares Csi China Internet Etf (KWEB) | five days earlier | -6.11% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | three days earlier | -2.06% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | five days earlier | +5.62% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | three days earlier | +3.08% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | five days earlier | +9.12% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 26 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) (jointly held), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Aug 2026. That is 70 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Chevron (CVX), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 26 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Chevron (CVX) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 47 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Chevron (CVX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 2 Sep 2026. That is 68 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Occidental Petroleum (OXY), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 80 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Companies in energy around United States Oil Fund (USO)
Likely winners
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings
In “Iran acquires oil facilities in China to bypass US sanctions, leaked document shows,” ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) tends to benefit, medium confidence. Reason on file: ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- OXY Occidental Petroleum
In “Iran acquires oil facilities in China to bypass US sanctions, leaked document shows,” Occidental Petroleum (OXY) tends to benefit, medium confidence. Reason on file: Occidental Petroleum (crude petroleum and natural gas): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
No up or down call on file
- USO United States Oil Fund
United States Oil Fund (USO) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 9 Nov 2026 story “Iran acquires oil facilities in China to bypass US sanctions, leaked document shows.” Reason on file: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- XLE Select Sector Spdr Tr
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 9 Nov 2026 story “Iran acquires oil facilities in China to bypass US sanctions, leaked document shows.” Reason on file: Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- KWEB Kraneshares Csi China Internet Etf
For “Iran acquires oil facilities in China to bypass US sanctions, leaked document shows,” Kraneshares Csi China Internet Etf (KWEB) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF: it holds Chinese internet companies. Linked by “china” (Chinese tech) in this story
- BWET Amplify Commodity Trust
Amplify Commodity Trust (BWET) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 9 Nov 2026 story “Iran acquires oil facilities in China to bypass US sanctions, leaked document shows.” Reason on file: Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF: it tracks tanker freight rates. Linked by “iran” (tanker shipping) in this story
How energy news reaches United States Oil Fund (USO)
On 9 Nov 2026, “Iran acquires oil facilities in China to bypass US sanctions, leaked document shows” is the story that connects United States Oil Fund (USO) to Energy.
United States Oil Fund (USO) is on the page because United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
Also listed, Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE): Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
Dates and price levels for United States Oil Fund (USO)
KWEB traded between 22.90 and 25.02 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 23.13. USO traded between 143.02 and 171.80 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 148.41. XLE traded between 63.05 and 70.15 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 66.70.
How strong the case is around United States Oil Fund (USO)
46 out of 100
“Iran acquires oil facilities in China to bypass US sanctions, leaked document shows” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies.