Iranian minister boasts about significant rise in oil exports despite US sanctions

22 Jan, 2021 12:51

Iran’s petroleum minister has bragged about the country’s rising oil exports in the face of US sanctions, as the nation claims that its international petroleum sales have hit record highs.

Iran’s Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zanganeh did not publicly release detailed figures but said crude oil exports have risen “significantly,” even though the US ramped up sanctions on the Middle Eastern country under the Trump administration.

If the sanctions are lifted, we will return to the market stronger than before, and faster than expected.

Speaking to the SHANA, the Iranian oil ministry’s news agency, Zanganeh declared that “We set the highest record of exports of refined products in the history of the oil industry during the embargo period.”

Iran has regularly opted to refrain from sharing detailed information about its level of oil exports while it remains under sanctions over concerns that doing so could allow foreign nations to target one of the key drivers of its economy. 

Also on rt.com India hopes to import more Iranian, Venezuelan crude under Biden

The statement from Iran’s government comes as the country seeks to rebuild diplomatic relations with the US, urging President Joe Biden to rejoin the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal in return for removing recently-imposed sanctions. Although, Biden’s team has, so far, suggested that the decision will not be made quickly.

Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!