[U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve Drops to 43-Year Low] According to a report by Jinse Finance, as of June 16, with the Trump administration nearing completion of its plan to release 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to mitigate fuel price surges caused by the Iran war, the U.S. emergency crude oil reserves have fallen to their lowest level since 1983. Data released by the U.S. Department of Energy on Monday shows that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (established in the early 1970s following the Arab oil embargo) has dropped to approximately 340 million barrels, nearing a historic low. If the plan is completed, this will mark the second-largest release in the reserve's history, leaving about 243 million barrels remaining, roughly one-third of its statutory capacity. The continuously declining inventory reduces the U.S.'s flexibility in responding to future supply disruptions. A spokesperson for the Department of Energy stated that the government is managing the reserve in line with its intended purpose: to help stabilize the oil market, protect the U.S. from supply disruptions, and enhance the country's energy security.