US unable to halt Iran oil exports: Veep

Tehran, Oct 28, IRNA – The United States will not be able to bring Iran’s oil exports to zero as the Iranian government has drawn up a plan and provided a mechanism for managing the country, first vice-president announced here on Sunday. 'Today, US officials are lying to the world and the Americans about oil price,' Eshaq Jahangiri said at a ceremony in the Iranian capital. US tells lies that Saudi Arabia and other countries can fill possible Iran oil shortfall not to let the oil price increase, Jahangiri said. 'If the US were able to halt Iran’s oil exports, the oil price would hit $100 per barrel,' Jahangiri noted. After Washington's May 8 exit from the Iran Deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the US gave a 90-to-180-day wind-down period to other countries before it starts re-imposing sanctions on Tehran on November 4. The US move drew criticism of the world leaders, particularly the Europeans. 'During the past months [before US sanctions threat], Iran was exporting 2.5 million barrels of oil per day,' said Jahangiri, adding, 'now maybe we are exporting a few thousand barrels less, but we have always been determined that our oil exports should not become less than one million barrels per day.' Reacting to the US anti-Iran measures, the Iranian first vice president had said in early July that Iranian government is to offer the country's oil through national stock exchange as the US has targeted Iranian oil sector in order to restrict the country's exports. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish