Chevron CorpU.S. license allows unrestricted Iranian oil purchases, increasing global supply and pressuring oil prices, hurting Chevron's upstream margins.
Exxon Mobil and Chevron shares dropped nearly 3% on Tuesday after the U.S. Treasury issued a sweeping 60-day license allowing unrestricted purchases of Iranian crude, petroleum products, and petrochemicals with direct U.S.-dollar payments. The Office of Foreign Assets Control published General License X on June 22, removing the biggest practical barrier to Iranian oil reaching global markets and sending Brent crude down more than 3.5% on the day. The license, the broadest U.S. authorization of Iranian oil since the conflict began, comes as U.S.-Iran negotiations in Switzerland produced a road map toward a longer-term deal, with Iranian exports already reaching 36 million barrels since a June 15 memorandum of understanding. Exxon has dropped more than 23% from its peak of $176.41, and Chevron is down roughly 20% from its high of $214.71, unwinding the war premium that had driven both stocks to lead the S&P 500 in the first quarter. If Iranian crude reaches market at scale, both stocks face continued pressure through the license's August 21 expiration, though a collapse in talks could revive the war premium quickly.
Chevron CorpU.S. license allows unrestricted Iranian oil purchases, increasing global supply and pressuring oil prices, hurting Chevron's upstream margins.
Exxon Mobil CorpU.S. license allows unrestricted Iranian oil purchases, increasing global supply and pressuring oil prices, hurting Exxon's upstream margins.