Iran denies selling oil to Sri Lanka, South Africa

TEHRAN,July 21(MNA) – The National Iranian Oil Company on Sunday rejected claims that it sold crude oil to Sri Lanka and South Africa. Mohsen Qamsari, the NIOC director for international affairs, said that some news outlets have published data based on unofficial sources about selling crude oil by Iran to Sri Lanka and South Africa in recent months. “The data are not valid and are not confirmed,” he stressed. On May 19, Press TV quoted Qamsari as saying that Iran has started exporting crude oil to South Africa and Sri Lanka following the easing of sanctions against Tehran as a result of the Geneva nuclear deal. Oil exports to the two countries are carried out under “single-shipment” contracts for the time being, he added. Nevertheless, “Iran has no problem with signing long-term contracts with Sri Lanka and South Africa on oil exports.” On June 19, Reuters reported that Sri Lanka has been buying Iranian crude through third parties from various countries and avoiding sanctions with the understanding of the United States. According to official statements, Iran has set an output target of 5.7 million barrels per day of crude by 2018. The latest figures produced by OPEC show that Iran is currently pumping about 3 million bpd of crude. An interim accord easing restrictions on insurance for Iran’s oil shipments and freeing up cash held outside the country in return for a suspension of nuclear work went into effect in January. Under the agreement, six buyers permitted under U.S. sanctions to take Iranian crude don’t have to cut imports to avoid penalties. The six buyers permitted to import Iranian crude under U.S. sanctions are Turkey, China, Japan, India, South Korea and Taiwan.