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Iran’s budget assumed $50 price of oil per barrel and only 30% of the budget comes from oil export revenuesNo, not even close. Iran's revenue from the Strait of Hormuz will not surpass $15 billion, even if all countries, and I emphasize all countries, accept to pay Iran the fee that the IRGC is wishing for and do not think about replacing the Strait of Hormuz in a couple of years, and the Strait of Hormuz does not remain leaky. So, that's Iran's income in the ideal situation.
Iran's oil exports have dropped to fewer than 300K barrels per day, and probably even fewer than 150K barrels per day. That would add another $10 billion of income. So, in the most optimistic scenario where China buys our oil without discount and all the countries do what the IRGC wants them to do, our income from this strategy would add up to $25 billion.
That's still about 30%-40% less than what it was before the US naval blockade on Iran. Not to mention that the chance of the first scenario ever happening is pretty unlikely as well because 1. the Strait of Hormuz is leaky, 2. not all countries will pay the IRGC their transit fee, 3. Arabs will soon replace and bypass the Strait of Hormuz in a couple of years.
So, why choose a stupid strategy that reduces your income by about 35% and is unsustainable in the long run? Iran should secure nukes, and guarantee its right to close the Strait of Hormuz in war time. Imposing a transit fee during peace time is unsustainable.
As you know, budget and GDP are different things. Iran's GDP is nosediving and Iran's currency is reaching new lows every week.Iran’s budget assumed $50 price of oil per barrel and only 30% of the budget comes from oil export revenues
Given Iran managed to export large amounts through ships already outside the blockade zone at much higher prices and continues to export some oil through STS transfer and land routes, the situation is very bad but not yet catastrophic in the short term
Budget is more important than GDP. If they can fund the budget, they can sustain operations as expected. This is why IRI is not desperate for a deal (other than the usual west loving suspects).As you know, budget and GDP are different things. Iran's GDP is nosediving and Iran's currency is reaching new lows every week.
Yeah, in the short term, we will have only 250% inflation and constant devaluation of the Iranian Rial. Fact of the matter is that you cannot rule over a country with 90 million people and 5 million illegal immigrants with just $25 billion of oil exports while your imports alone is already about $20 billion or more.
This.
If 12 GBU-57s that had been specifically tailored for the destruction of Iran's nuclear facilities under mountains couldn't completely destroy Fordow's enrichment plant after entering its ventilation shaft,
Nothing short of a nuclear strike on the Pick Axe mountain can finish the job.
However, there's no need to attack the Pick Axe mountain as nothing clandestine is happening there. Iran's HEU has been buried in Natanz and Fordow.
Also, Iran doesn't have enough uranium reserves and yellow cake,
and enough new centrifuges, to restart enriching uranium in the Pick Axe mountain from scratch either.
Therefore, as long as satellite images show that Iran's uranium has not been moved from their previous locations,
Budget is more important than GDP. If they can fund the budget, they can sustain operations as expected. This is why IRI is not desperate for a deal (other than the usual west loving suspects).
Iran is still exporting some fuel products even by ship (as well as land, of course):