Mismanagement of Iranian Oil Cargoes at Chinese Ports Referred to Audit Court Prosecutor

Iran's Supreme Audit Court said on Sunday, Shahrivar 1, 1405 (August 23, 2026), according to ISNA, that its review of the process for leasing storage tanks and managing and selling Iranian oil cargoes at three Chinese ports found evidence of laxity in safeguarding state assets, overreach of authority, and failure to carry out legally required duties. The Court said these violations, which have persisted from past years, have resulted in losses to public funds.

According to the Audit Court, failure to make timely decisions on managing the oil cargoes and unjustified storage of them in leased tanks reduced the cargoes' quality and economic value while imposing mounting tank rental costs on public funds. The case concerning these failures and the resulting losses has been referred to the Audit Court's own prosecutor's office for investigation and legal action. The report comes as Iran's oil exports in recent months have faced constraints from the war, sanctions, and the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz.