Iran’s crude exports are set to drop by about a quarter in December from the preceding month to the lowest level since tough sanctions were applied this year, as the OPEC-member comes under pressure to curb its nuclear program, Reuters reported Thursday, December 6. Iran’s customers will lift 834,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude in December compared with 1.08 million bpd in November, an industry source said, representing a loss of about $800 million for Iran at current oil prices. While the exact reasons for December’s sharp drop are not clear, sources said Iran may be struggling to find enough tankers to ship the crude as more and more are being used to store unsold oil. Oil shipments by Iran have more than halved in 2012 due to U.S. and European sanctions on its oil trade, straining Tehran’s finances, pressuring its currency and igniting inflation.