Iran to force OPEC to cut production in future.

Iran to force OPEC to cut production in future. (Taz).

After lifting the West’s sanctions from Iran, the Saudi Arabia may reconsider its stance regarding OPEC’s production quotas, i.e., its refusal to reduce the production, Vladimir Sotnikov, the senior fellow at the International Security Center of the World Economy and International Relations Institute told Trend April 30.

“As soon as it becomes clear that Iran joins the game as a full-fledged oil player and a competitor of Saudi Arabia, the latter can support the reduction of the quota set by OPEC,” Sotnikov, who is also the senior fellow at the Middle East Department of the Russian Sciences Academy’s Oriental Studies Institute, said.

Currently, OPEC controls 40 percent of world oil supplies. OPEC’s oil production quota stands at 30 million barrels per day.

During a meeting, held in November 2014, the cartel decided not to change the quota, despite the falling oil prices at the time and the persuasions of some countries to cut production to stabilize prices.

However, the position of Saudi Arabia, which refused to cut the production, has become an obstacle for OPEC on the way to the quota reduction.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia said its oil production is likely to remain at 10 million barrels per day, as the Asian demand for oil remains strong, and the country is ready to supply any required volume.

The next meeting of OPEC member countries will be held June 4, following which it is scheduled to take a final decision on the issue of quotas for oil production.


Sotnikov said that at the upcoming meeting, Saudi Arabia would once again play a leading role.

In light of recent events connected with the Iranian nuclear issue and the prospects for building volumes of production and export of oil by the Islamic Republic, the expert believes that there is a possibility that Saudi Arabia will change its positions regarding the quotas.

“The country may revise its commitments and affect the rest OPEC member countries in order to make a collective decision,” he said.

Oil production in Saudi Arabia in March amounted to 10.01 million barrels per day compared to 9.663 million barrels per day in February, according to OPEC’s latest monthly report.

Oil production in Saudi Arabia in 2015 will increase by 0.5 million barrels compared to 2014 and reach 10.2 million barrels per day, according to analysts at JP Morgan. Hmmmm.....If OPEC refuses you may bet your life that they will close the strait of Hormuz.

US Media: Obama’s Oil Sanctions Against Iran Are not Working.

US Media: Obama’s Oil Sanctions Against Iran Are not Working.

Iran is now exporting more oil than at any time since mid-2012, raising doubts about how effective that sanctions strategy has been, Foreign Policy said.

“This rise in Iran’s oil exports came while the Obama administration may be betting that sanctions on Iranian oil exports force the country to make concessions over its nuclear program,” the Foreign Policy said in its report.

“According to the revised data released Friday by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Iran’s crude oil exports jumped to 1.65 million barrels per day in February, thanks to increased purchases by China, India, and South Korea,” added the report.

According to Foreign Policy, that is well above the informal cap of about one million barrels per day set by the Obama administration as part of the limited sanctions relief given to Tehran during the six-month interim deal to hold nuclear negotiations.

The IEA said that preliminary data showed that Iran’s oil exports dropped to about one million barrels a day in March, “but that figure will likely be revised upwards closer to February levels upon receipt of more complete data.”

“In other words, Iran’s oil exports appear to have jumped and stayed consistently higher since the announcement late last year of the interim deal,” the Foreign Policy said.

The International Monetary Fund said this month that Iran could post modest economic growth between now and next year.

Elsewhere, the report reminded the statements of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif earlier this year that “a lot of intensive work will be required to overcome the differences” between the two sides, who will meet again next month in Vienna.

State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said Friday that the reported amounts of crude oil that Iran sold refers to volume over a six-month period, and that over time the amount will average out to one million barrels.

“Month-to-month variability is normal in oil markets,” Psaki said, “And we still expect and anticipate…that this will average out over a six-month period.”

Since 2012, the US and Europe have sought to hamstring Iran’s economy by limiting the amount of oil it can export.

As part of the interim nuclear deal — and in the teeth of heated opposition in Congress — the US halted further cuts to Iranian exports, but said that Iran could not sell additional volumes of oil while talks continue.
But the latest IEA figures show that China and India, in particular, continue to be large buyers of Iranian oil despite US efforts to get both countries to curb their consumption. The IEA said that China likely imported about 500,000 barrels of Iranian oil a day in the first quarter of 2014, compared with about 430,000 barrels a day last year.

According to the Foreign Policy report, India’s purchases of Iranian oil have also jumped sharply, despite both US diplomatic arm-twisting and Indian pledges to curtail imports.

The IEA said that India’s first-quarter Iranian oil imports were about 340,000 barrels a day compared with just 190,000 barrels a day last year.

“The latest apparent rebound in Iranian oil exports comes as Moscow is challenging the US-led effort to maintain pressure on Iran. Since the beginning of this year, Russia and Iran have reportedly been in talks regarding an oil-for-goods barter deal that could bring Iran as much as $20 billion in exchange for about 500,000 barrels of oil per day,” the Foreign Policy said.

Obama administration officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, have repeatedly stressed that such a deal, if it were finalized, could trigger US sanctions on Russia.
“Leading lawmakers, including Sens. Robert Menendez (D.-NJ) and Mark Kirk (D.-Ill.), the authors of key sanctions legislation, urged President Barack Obama to “put Iran on notice if it tries to evade limits on energy sales.”


Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has rebuffed those warnings, saying that Russia only acknowledges UN sanctions on Iran, not US restrictions on Iran’s oil exports.

Hmmm.....I've have posted many, many times about the 'oil sanctions' scam by the Obama admin.


Turkey's TUPRAS oil refining company imported around 130,000-140,000 barrels of Iranian oil per day in 2012 and the volumes of supplies amount to 105,000 barrels per day in 2013.

Turkey imported about 185,000 barrels of oil from Iran per day in 2011.

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Iran denies Turkey’s 200,000 barrels per day Iranian oil buying jump. 

"Sanctions That Benefit Obama's BFF Turkey" - Iran Bypassing Sanctions on its Oil, Aided by Asian Customers and the Obama Admin.



Related: As expected Obama will give BFF Turkey a waiver from sanctions, they 'only' import 45 percent of their oil from Iran and aid Iran avoiding sanctions.

Obama administration officials didn't say how much the seven countries had cut their oil purchases. In March, U.S. officials signaled that they were seeking reductions of 15% to 22% of purchases.

Several large countries, including India and Turkey, said publicly that they were reluctant to reduce imports of Iranian oil because of their long reliance on the Islamic regime. They appear to have met the minimum level of cooperation that Washington demanded, however.How Much did Turkey actually 'reduce' it's inports??

Answer:
Before May, Turkey was the only buyer in Europe to increase purchases from Iran, while other European refiners cut back on imports of the crude ahead of an impending EU oil embargo due to take effect from July 1.In the first four months of 2012, Turkey imported 210,000 barrels per day of Iranian oil on average, including a huge 270,000 bpd in March, much higher than its 2011 average of 185,000 bpd.

In May Turkey's state-controlled refining company, Tupras, imported around 140,000 barrels per day (bpd), a 20 percent drop from its 2011 average, according to the latest shipping data, obtained by Reuters. Port data showed 152,000 tonnes of Iranian crude was delivered to the port of Aliaga in May, while 443,000 tonnes of Iranian crude was delivered to its second import terminal, Tutunciflik. Tupras is expected to import the same volume in June.
From July 1, Turkey will remain effectively the sole buyer of Iranian crude in Europe. Official trade data showed that in the first four months of this year, Iran accounted for about 58 percent of Turkey's near 6 million tonnes in total crude imports.
THIS REDUCTION IS A PURE SMOKESCREEN APPROVED BY THE OBAMA ADMIN!

"Sanctions that benefit" - Known US energy figures to participate “post-sanction” conference in Iran.

"Sanctions that benefit" - Known US energy figures to participate “post-sanction” conference in Iran.(Taz).

Some six known figures from the US energy sector will participate in the "Iran post sanctions: Energy and Environment" conference, which will be held on March 8-9 in Tehran, the Iranian Fars news agency reported on Feb. 15.

Former director of the Conoco Eurasia, Franz Ehrhardt, director of the Middle East Program at CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies), Jon B. Alterman, former U.S. State Department policy advisor, Suzanne Maloney and Barbara Slavin from the Atlantic Council are scheduled to participate in the conference.

Secretary Generals of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Abdullah Salem el-Badri, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Mohammad Hossein Adeli and Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Shamil Aleskerov have also been invited to make a speech at the Iran post sanctions conference.

The conference aims to enable and enhance the dialogue and knowledge sharing between all policy makers, executives from major oil companies, experts, energy scholars, research institutions and scientific society in general.

It also aims to introduce investment opportunities in Iran's oil, gas, and petrochemicals, which are estimated in the amount of $200 billion.

The implementation of the Geneva nuclear deal will pave the way for the increase of Iran's oil exports, Seyyed Mohsen Ghamsari, an official with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), said on Jan. 12.

Iran and the P5+1 reached a nuclear agreement on Nov. 24. Iran has agreed to curb some of its nuclear activities for six months in return for sanctions relief. Both Iran and the P5+1 group have agreed to implement the agreement starting from Jan. 20.

Under the agreement, six major powers agreed to give Iran access to $4.2 billion in revenues blocked overseas, if it carries out the deal, which offers sanctions relief in exchange for steps to curb the Iranian nuclear program.

Imports of Iranian crude rose by 100,000 barrels a day last month, with China, Japan and India taking more oil as a deal easing sanctions over Iran's nuclear program took effect, the International Energy Agency said on Feb.13.

According to Bloomberg, Purchasing countries received 1.32 million barrels a day last month, the IEA, a Paris-based adviser to 28 nations, said.Hmmm.....After forcing 'Ally' Europe to deal with higher oil prices, providing BFF Turkey with cheap oil now carving up the oil pie.

Who lifted the Iran Sanctions? latest report from Iran indicates doubling the petrochemical products export over the past month.

Who lifted the Iran Sanctions? latest report from Iran indicates doubling the petrochemical products export over the past month.(Taz).By Dalga Khatinoglu.

The latest report from Iran indicates doubling the petrochemical products export over the past month. A report from the Iran Custom Administration shows a growth of about 214 percent, surpassing pre-sanctions levels.

There is not any concrete evidence to show the reason, but the Custom Administration's report last month indicates a twofold increase of condensate export in last two months of Iranian calendar year, compared to average of monthly condensate export during the year, surpassing pre-sanctions level as well.

The condensate and petrochemical products exports are vital for Iran because they share about a half of the country's total non-oil exports.

The rapid rising of condensate and petrochemical products exports after the Iranian newly elected moderate President Hassan Rouhani took power in August seems to be resulted by the easing of some restrictive measures imposed by the West on Iran during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency.

When comparing the figures over the past two months with the same periods during last two years, we find no indication that these rises result from seasonal conditions.
The EU's petrochemicals-related sanctions on Iran started even several months earlier than oil-related ones.Read the full story here.

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Iranian multi-billionaire Zanjani arrested.

For an account of  Turkey's “Sanctions that Benefit” and Zanjani and Zarrab operations see the following post and links.
“Sanctions That Benefit” – Growing Corruption Scandal in Turkey Involves Iran – ‘Gas for Gold’ 

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Iranian multi-billionaire Zanjani arrested.(Taz).

Iranian multi-billionaire Babak Zanjani has been arrested, Fars News Agency quoted Iran Judiciary spokesman Mohsen Ejei as saying on Dec.30.

Before, the Central Bank of Iran announced on Dec. 28 that Zanjani has not paid any sold oil's money to the Central Bank of Iran.

Zanjani who is the owner or shareholder of at least 70 companies and banks including Bank Arzesh in Tajikistan and First Islamic Bank had been involved in Iran's oil sell and transferring the sold oil's money to the country to bypass the imposed western sanctions on the country.

Zanjani's name also was mentioned in Turkey's latest corruption scandal.

Earlier on Dec. 22, Iranian media outlets quoted Iranian MP Mostafa Afzalifard as saying Zanjani has paid his €2.06 billion debt to Iran's Oil Ministry.

The Central Bank has affirmed that the sum has been deposited to the Oil Ministry's account, Afzalifard added.

Iranian MP Saeed Heydari said that the document which Zanjani presented to the parliament's Article 90 Commission on payments is spurious.

In September, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said that "Zanjani claims the Americans blocked his bank account so he is not able to transfer the money to the Iranian government".

Zanjani had said that the money was in bank account of a Hong Kong-based company which is a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company, adding that, "transferring the money to Iran is not my concern".

In an interview with the ISNA News Agency in August, Zanjani said that he has helped transfer 17.5 billion euros of the Iranian banks' capital from outside the country to domestic bank accounts with a 0.007 percent interest.

He further rejected rumors about him selling Iranian oil at a cheap price. He said that the Hong Kong-based company is in charge of selling Iran's oil, but since no bank was ready to transfer money for the firm, the said the company asked him to help and he managed to transfer the money via the Malaysia-based bank (of which he was a member of the board of directors).

Zanjani also said he has helped the Hong Kong-based company with selling eight oil containers as well as some gas condensates containers. He claimed that he has helped Iran sell a total of 12 oil and gas condensates containers and secured the money transfer.
More, Much more here:
As expected Obama will give BFF Turkey a waiver from sanctions, they 'only' import 45 percent of their oil from Iran and aid Iran avoiding sanctions. “Sanctions That Benefit” – Iranian gold stars in Turkish corruption scandal 

Great overview of 'events' here: 

AKP's Longest Day: Erdogan's Omnipotence Backfires Spectaculary, But Will The Protests Trigger Early Elections?

Iranian Pres Rouhani Orders Investigation of Sanctions Profiteers in Iran.

Iranian Pres Rouhani Orders Investigation of Sanctions Profiteers in Iran.HT: UskowiOnIran.

In a letter to Vice President Esshaq Jahangiri, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has ordered an immediate investigation by government agencies for identifying and punishing sanctions profiteers.

“To take the country’s economy out of recession and create an economic boom, it is vital to ensure transparent and secure environment for economic activities. It is necessary to take immediate measures to identify and punish those who by taking advantage of special (anti-sanctions) concessions and privileges that have been granted them to enrich themselves through corruption and illegitimate income,” wrote Rouhani in his letter. (Mehr News Agency, 28 December)

“Cases of abuse, especially regarding the sanctions, should be prioritized, and a report should be presented within a month,” Rouhani added in his letter.

To defy sanctions, the Iranian government had devised schemes to receive payments for its oil and gas exports. It allowed “private” companies, usually fronts for IRGC and the Quds Force, to sell as much as 20% of oil exports in black market. The experience, however, created “sanctions brokers,” like the notorious Babak Zanjani, to misuse their government-backed access to illicit money transfers to amass personal fortunes in shortest time. Zanjani, who entered the oil “business” in 2012, after the sanctions were imposed, boasted to reporters that he was now worth $10 billion.

Another case was the now-infamous “gas-for-gold” scheme, where Iran sent gas and oil to Turkey in return for gold bullions. The Iranian sanctions broker involved in that scheme, Reza Zarrab, was arrested in Istanbul last week and claimed that Babak Zanjani was his ‘boss” and contact in Tehran. The case has now directly involved Iran in the growing government corruption scandal in Turkey.Hmmm.......Someone trying to get Ahmadinejad?The IRGC won't take that so easy.

For an account of  Turkey's "Sanctions that Benefit" and Zanjani and Zarrab operations see the following post and links.

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Growing Corruption Scandal in Turkey Involves Iran – ‘Gas for Gold’ 

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Growing Corruption Scandal in Turkey Involves Iran – ‘Gas for Gold’

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Growing Corruption Scandal in Turkey Involves Iran – ‘Gas for Gold’.HT: UskowiOnIran.

The growing government corruption scandal in Turkey has led to resignations of three key ministers and calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Erdogan, who on Wednesday replaced half his cabinet.

The scandal partly involves suspects with close ties to Iran. An Iranian businessman living in Turkey, Reza Zarrab (aka Riza Sarraf) was arrested last week in Istanbul and charged with money laundering and bribing Turkish officials. Zarrab is believed to have facilitated the payments for oil and gas imports from Iran with gold bullions worth tens of billions of dollars sent via couriers to Tehran in a scheme to circumvent sanctions. In the process, Zarrab is believed to have bribed senior Turkish officials to enable his operations. The sums of “commission” bribes are said to be in tens of millions of dollars.

The so-called “gas-for-gold” scheme was designed to circumvent the sanctions limiting financial transactions with Iran. This is how the scheme was designed: Iran exported oil and gas to Turkey. The Turkish government opened an account at Istanbul’s Halkbank to pay for Iranian imports. Zarrab forms Safir Gold Company in Turkey. The company opens a bank account at Halkbank. The Iran funds were then transferred through intra-bank transactions to Zarrab’s company account. Zarrab uses the funds to procure gold bullions globally and imports them through his Turkish-registered company to Turkey. He then sends the gold through couriers either directly or through Dubai to Tehran. The Turkish media repots that some $13 billion worth of gold was sent to Iran through the “gas-for-gold” scheme.

To facilitate his operations, Zarrab reportedly bribes sons of three key ministers, those of finance, interior and environment, handsomely. The son of finance minister is said to have received $50 million in just more than a year. The sons have ben arrested on bribery charges. Suleyman Aslan, the CEO of Halkbank, was also arrested on bribery charges. The police found $4.5 million in cash hidden in shoeboxes during the search of the house. (balkaneu.com/Trend/Haberturk, 19-24 December)

Meanwhile, Zarrab reportedly tells the Turkish prosecutors that his “boss” and contact in Tehran was Babak Zanjani, the controversial Iranian businessman and head of the Sorinet Group business conglomerate. (Haberturk, 21 December)

Zanjani became notoriously famous as the most successful “sanctions broker,” selling Iranian crude oil in the black market. He obtained the oil through an arrangement with Iran’s Ministry of Oil, which had allocated 20% of Iran’s oil exports to be handled by “private” firms. In Zanjani’s case, his private firm was reportedly a front company for IRGC’s Quds Force that had obtained a large allocation of the private oil export license from the oil ministry. In the process, Zanjani became a billionaire since the inception of oil sanctions in 2012, and was now identified by Zarrab as the boss in “gas-for-gold” scheme in Turkey.

On Thursday, Zanjani denied involvement in Turkey's corruption scandal or “gas-for-gold” scheme, saying he had met Zarrab only few times, adding, “I was not aware of his activities.”

"We (Zanjani and Zarrab) did not carry out any common business," Zanjani said. “If Zarrab had done any illegal business, I would not be responsible for that.” (Trend, 26 December)

In January 2013, Turkish police inspecting a private jet at Istanbul airport found 320 gold bars worth some $30 million. Turkish media have identified Zanjani as the passenger on board, ready to depart for Dubai. A Zarrab (aka Sarraf) would then intervene with the police and the aircraft is allowed to take off. This is the same Zarrab involved in the current scandal. A number od senior Istanbul police officials have been arrested this week on charges of bribery and corruption. (balkaneu.com/23 December)

Meanwhile in Tehran, 12 MPs asked the Judiciary officials to question Zanjani in relations to the growing scandal in Turkey. Zarrab remains under custody in Istanbul. The prosecutors as part of their on-going investigations have confiscated his yachts and other high-value possessions. Zarrab, 29, set up his Safir Gold Company only in 2012, and within a year the company boasted the control of 46% of all Turkish gold exports. Previously, Zarrab was an employee at Al Nafees Exchange and Al Salam Exchange Center in Dubai. He is now married to Turkish famous singer Embru Gundes. (Haberturk, 21 December)Hmmm....As i said many times before all this happened because the Obama 'Admin' 'Allowed' it to happen.

More, Much more here:

As expected Obama will give BFF Turkey a waiver from sanctions, they 'only' import 45 percent of their oil from Iran and aid Iran avoiding sanctions. 

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Iranian gold stars in Turkish corruption scandal 

Great overview of 'events' here: 

AKP's Longest Day: Erdogan's Omnipotence Backfires Spectaculary, But Will The Protests Trigger Early Elections?

Iran names European, US firms it wants back to its oilfields, Opec keeps quota unchanged.

Iran names European, US firms it wants back to its oilfields.(RT).

Total of France, Royal Dutch Shell, Italy's ENI, Norway's Statoil, Britain's BP and US companies ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips will be welcome to work in the country, Reuters reported Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh as saying.

Speaking to reporters at an OPEC meeting, Zanganeh said he had already negotiated with some of the companies, but not yet with the American firms.
"We had no limitations for US companies. Twenty years ago there were limitations against them from their own administration. For doing projects in Iran, we have no limitations," Zanganeh said.

In reply to a question about whether Iran wants to see Chinese and Indian companies working in Iran, he said: "Yes, but now we are discussing with European [firms]."

Mehdi Hosseini, an Iranian official in charge of revising national investment terms, said he hoped to introduce a new contract model for foreign oil firms at a London conference in the second week of April.
The US, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany have said they will loosen trade sanctions on Iran if it promises to wind down its nuclear plans under the Geneva accord.
However a western oil source from a company that had invested in Iran said, "A removal of sanctions that would allow for tangible progress for international oil companies is still at the minimum 18-24 months away."
"The Iranians aren't under any illusions that they can draw anyone in before the sanctions are lifted," said a Western oil executive from another company previously involved in Iran. "And most international oil companies will be careful not to go one step too far before a final agreement is reached between Iran and the West."
Iran has 18 percent of global natural gas reserves and the world's fourth-largest proven oil reserves. Last week, Tehran agreed at talks in Geneva to curtail its nuclear program in exchange for gradual cancelation of international sanctions that prevent western companies from doing business inside the country.

Tehran has been negotiating with potential investors in its oil and gas sector for some time. Before the present harsh sanctions were applied in 2010, several of Europe’s largest oil and gas companies were ready to invest billions of dollars in the country’s economy. Hmmm.....OPEC keeps oil production quota unchanged, guess they don't see any Iranian comeback on the market?

Top Iranian diplomat hopes to expand crude oil exports to Japan.

2012 numbers

Top Iranian diplomat hopes to expand crude oil exports to Japan.(TheIranProject).

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqhchi has expressed hope Iran’s oil exports to Japan to rise.

Araghchi talked to The Yomiuri Shimbun last week after attending nuclear negotiations with top officials from Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States in Geneva. He was the chief negotiator of Iran’s nuclear delegation in the talks, which Iran hopes will help end economic sanctions placed on the country and thus expand crude oil exports.

Araghchi, who served as Iranian ambassador to Japan from 2008 to 2011, hopes in particular for improved ties between Japan and Iran to help revive Iran’s economy.

“As a result of negotiations with 5 + 1 [the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany], we hope that we can conclude these negotiations so that the negotiations with Japan would expand much better than before,” Araghchi said, suggesting that lifting the sanctions would benefit both Japan and Iran.

Historically, the two countries have friendly relations with each other. The amount of crude oil Iran exported to Japan in 2012 was the fifth-largest by country. Due to the influence of the economic sanctions led by the United States, however, exports to Japan dropped from 560,000 barrels per day in 2006 to 120,000 barrels per day in June this year.

Crude oil exports make up almost half of the total revenue of the Iranian government. Araghchi aims to recover the rapidly declining amount of the country’s crude oil exports to Japan partly to support the financial recovery of Iran.

As for Iran’s nuclear development, Araghchi said the country aims to be like Japan, emphasizing the idea of promoting the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Araghchi, a career diplomat, was posted to Japan after serving as a vice minister in charge of international laws. During his time as the ambassador to Japan, he had his surname printed in kanji on his business cards. Shortly after the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, he visited Sendai with a donation of 50,000 cans of food. He is also very knowledgeable about Japan’s nuclear energy administration.

There are signs of the bilateral relations between Japan and Iran becoming more active of late. In September, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Liberal Democratic Party Vice President Masahiko Komura both held talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to visit Iran in November. Hmmm.....If Obama's BFF Turkey can get 'Carte Blanche' consercing oil purchases then so should Japan and the rest of Europe, this comes only down to unfair concurency to other allies.

Related:  

As expected Obama will give BFF Turkey a waiver from sanctions, they 'only' import 45 percent of their oil from Iran and aid Iran avoiding sanctions.

Iran to Export Oil to North Korea.

Iran to Export Oil to North Korea.HT: UskowiOnIran. Iran's oil ministry said it was considering exporting oil to North Korea. The official IRNA news agency today quoted Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi as saying talks were under way between Tehran and Pyongyang on oil exports. (IRNA, 20 April)
An oil deal with North Korea will bring the two countries closer together and will add to the volume of Iran’s exports that has been severely cut due to sanctions. Read the full story here.

Updated: Oil ministers of Iran and North Korea held negotiations on export of Iranian oil to North Korea, Fars News Agency reported.

Earlier on Thursday Iranian oil minister met with his North Korean counterpart during international energy exhibition held in Tehran, Fars News Agency reported on Apr.18.

According to the report, Rostam Gasemi and Pae Hak met during Iran's 18th International Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemical Exhibition started work on Wednesday.

Before on April 16, South Korean Yonhap News Agency reported that North Korea sent a delegation to the energy exhibition in Iran, indicating that Pyongyang wants to maintain close relations with the oil-rich Middle Eastern country. According to the report, a delegation of the Ministry of Oil Industry, led by the minister Pae Hak, left Pyongyang on Tuesday in order to participate in the international energy event in the Iranian capital of Teheran, according to the (North) Korean Central News Agency.

Some North Korean observers in Seoul claimed that the impetus behind sending the delegation may be to strengthen economic and political relations with Iran.

The two countries are believed to be cooperating closely, technically and financially, in their development of nuclear arms, missiles and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD). They have both been sanctioned by the international community, which sees the countries as global security risks.

Pyongyang recently detonated its third nuclear device on Feb. 12, launched a long-range rocket in December and has several times threatened South Korea, the United States and Japan with pre-emptive nuclear attacks.Read the full story here.

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Obama's BFF Turkey resume gold trade with Iran despite US sanctions.

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Obama's BFF Turkey resume gold trade with Iran despite US sanctions.(TI).Iran and Turkey resume their trade of gold for natural gas and make USD 120 million deal in February, circumventing tough US sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear energy program, Press TV reported.

Turkey exported almost USD 120 million worth of gold to Iran in February after it announced a moratorium in January, Reuters reported.

Data from the Turkish Statistics Institute (TUIK) showed that Ankara sold no gold to Tehran in January as banks and dealers implemented the February 6 US sanctions targeting Iranian oil revenues.

The US and its European allies have imposed illegal unilateral sanctions against Iran based on the unfounded accusation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

On February 6, 2013, the US Treasury Department announced new sanctions targeting Iranian oil revenues. The sanctions prevent Iran from gaining access to earnings garnered from its crude exports.

One Istanbul gold trader asking not to be named, said, "Due to the sanctions, nobody wants to attract attention. That may be the reason why exports stopped to Iran in January."

"However, trade with Iran continues; there will always be transfers. Looking at this year's figures, the February exports to Iran are quite low, so it shouldn't cause issues," he added.

On January 4, 2013, Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan slammed European Union pressures on Ankara to stop gold-for-gas trade with Iran, saying the EU demand would fall on "deaf ears."

On December 26, 2012, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Ankara would keep buying natural gas from Iran regardless of Western sanctions against the Islamic Republic.Hmmmmm......Why is Turkey allowed to mock the US Congress?Read the full story here.

Related:  "Sanctions That Benefit Obama's BFF Turkey" - Iran Bypassing Sanctions on its Oil, Aided by Asian Customers and the Obama Admin."


As expected Obama will give BFF Turkey a waiver from sanctions, they 'only' import 45 percent of their oil from Iran and aid Iran avoiding sanctions.

U.S. exempts seven countries that consume Iran oil from sanctions.
Obama administration officials didn't say how much the seven countries had cut their oil purchases. In March, U.S. officials signaled that they were seeking reductions of 15% to 22% of purchases.

Several large countries, including India and Turkey, said publicly that they were reluctant to reduce imports of Iranian oil because of their long reliance on the Islamic regime. They appear to have met the minimum level of cooperation that Washington demanded, however.How Much did Turkey actually 'reduce' it's inports??

Answer:
Before May, Turkey was the only buyer in Europe to increase purchases from Iran, while other European refiners cut back on imports of the crude ahead of an impending EU oil embargo due to take effect from July 1.In the first four months of 2012, Turkey imported 210,000 barrels per day of Iranian oil on average, including a huge 270,000 bpd in March, much higher than its 2011 average of 185,000 bpd.

In May Turkey's state-controlled refining company, Tupras, imported around 140,000 barrels per day (bpd), a 20 percent drop from its 2011 average, according to the latest shipping data, obtained by Reuters. Port data showed 152,000 tonnes of Iranian crude was delivered to the port of Aliaga in May, while 443,000 tonnes of Iranian crude was delivered to its second import terminal, Tutunciflik. Tupras is expected to import the same volume in June.
From July 1, Turkey will remain effectively the sole buyer of Iranian crude in Europe. Official trade data showed that in the first four months of this year, Iran accounted for about 58 percent of Turkey's near 6 million tonnes in total crude imports.
THIS REDUCTION IS A PURE SMOKESCREEN APPROVED BY THE OBAMA ADMIN! 

Get ready for higher gas prices? Iran’s chances to win OPEC sec. gen. post rise as Saudi Arabia quits.

Get ready for higher gas prices? Iran’s chances to win OPEC sec. gen. post rise as Saudi Arabia quits.(TI).Iran has gained new chances to win the post of the OPEC secretary general as Saudi Arabia's Majid al-Moneef withdrew his candidacy, the Fars News Agency reported.
Al-Moneef, who formerly served as Saudi Arabia's governor to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and as a senior economic adviser to Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, had been vying for the producer group's top administrative position against candidates from Iran and Iraq. He dropped out of the contest on Monday.

In October 2012, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that all the necessary measures will be taken to support ex-oil minister Gholamhossein Nozari to win the secretary general post in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The Shana News Agency quoted him as saying that Iran is a founding member as well as an influential member of the organization and it is natural for it to win the post.
The OPEC's current Libyan secretary general, Abdallah el-Badri, has been in the position for two terms since 2007.
Although Iran is the OPEC's second major producer, the only Iranian secretary general has been Mr Foad Rohani, who held the post between 1961 and 1964.
Iran has attempted several times to take OPEC general secretary post during last 30 years by nominating Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian and Hossein Kazemi Ardabili, but could not succeed.
Iran announced on June 2 that it will introduce a nominee for the post of secretary general of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), but a day later Iraqi deputy Prime Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said that Iran will support Samir Ghazban, the Iraqi nominee for the position.
OPEC's current secretary-general, Abdalla el-Badri of Libya, will complete his second three-year term at the end of this year.
OPEC ministers will probably consider the nominations at their June 14 meeting at the organization's Vienna headquarters.
OPEC's members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.Hmmm....How many 'like' the US and the West?Read the full story here.

U.S. Congress unknowingly bought Iranian oil for the Afghan Ministry of Defense?

U.S. Congress unknowingly bought Iranian oil for the Afghan Ministry of Defense?(TI).American officials in Afghanistan have failed to verify that fuel purchased for Afghan security forces in recent years did not come from Iran, which would constitute a violation of U.S. sanctions, according to an inspector general report issued Wednesday.
According to The Washington Post Daily, The report warned that "it will become more difficult" to make sure assistance to Afghanistan complies with sanctions on Iran as the U.S. military footprint in the country continues to shrink over the next two years. The United States intends to start giving a fuel stipend for Afghan forces to the Afghan Ministry of Defense in March, rather than directly supplying units in the field.
"Our report again demonstrates the critical importance that oversight plays in the contracting process," Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John F. Sopko said in a statement. "It is essential that the Department of Defense continues to implement strict controls over the fuel supply process to ensure taxpayer funds are not used in violation of Iranian sanctions.
Between 2007 and 2012, the report said, the U.S. government did not have a reliable way of verifying that its Afghan providers were not buying from Iran as they supplied fuel worth nearly $1.1 billion to the Afghan army. The Pentagon asked Congress for $323 million for fuel purchases for Afghan security forces during 2013. U.S. military officials estimate that the Afghan army will need $2.8 billion to keep its security vehicles running between 2014 and 2018.
Afghanistan imports most of its oil from Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran. Investigators from the inspector general office, known as SIGAR, found that some fuel imported from other neighbors may have been blended with Iranian petrol.
The report of a possible violation of Iran sanctions is the latest critical review of the U.S. military's fuel procurement for Afghans. SIGAR and other U.S. agencies have said the military does not have enough safeguards to ensure that the fuel it provides to local security forces is not siphoned off.
In response to a draft of the report, the training command said it is taking numerous steps to enhance accountability in its fuel procurement system, including a new requirement that vendors must agree not to buy Iranian fuel.
The United States bars American companies from doing business with Iran and prohibits spending U.S. taxpayer funds on Iranian products. The measure is designed to cut off the Islamic republic from the global economy, a pressure tactic to persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Iran is the third-largest exporter of crude in the world, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.Hmmm.....Sanctions that benefit, Turkey....Afghanistan and who else?Read the full story here.

"SANCTIONS THAT BENEFIT" - Turkish Daily Oil Imports from Iran Exceed 75,000 Barrels in October.

"SANCTIONS THAT BENEFIT" - Turkish Daily Oil Imports from Iran Exceed 75,000 Barrels in October.(IMRA).TEHRAN - The latest trade data showed that Turkey has imported over 75,000 barrels of crude oil from Iran per day in October irrespective of the western oil embargo against Tehran. A report by Reuters said on Friday that Turkey's crude oil imports from Iran reached 75,281 barrels per day (bpd) in October, and Iran is now the third crude supplier to Turkey.
The report said that Iraq was Turkey's biggest crude supplier in October with 105,000 bpd while Russia came second with 103,248 bpd and imports from the Islamic Republic stood third. Turkey's sole refiner Tupras imported a total of 417,202 bpd of crude oil in October. The report came after Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz stressed Turkey's opposition to unilateral sanctions against Iran. Yildiz stated on Thursday that Turkey is a member of the United Nations and while complying with UN decisions, it does not abide by unilateral sanctions imposed by other countries. He also emphasized the importance of oil and gas imports from Iran to Turkey, saying that Ankara reviews decisions that are against Turkey's interests with more precision. Since the beginning of 2012, the United States and the European Union have imposed illegal sanctions on Iran's oil and financial sectors with the goal of preventing other countries from purchasing Iranian crude and conducting transactions with the Central Bank of Iran. The sanctions entered into force in early summer 2012. On October 15, the EU foreign ministers reached an agreement on another round of sanctions against Iran. The illegal US-engineered sanctions have been imposed based on the unfounded accusation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.Hmmm......Obama's BFF Erdogan.Read the full story here.

Related: Related: As expected Obama will give BFF Turkey a waiver from sanctions, they 'only' import 45 percent of their oil from Iran and aid Iran avoiding sanctions.

Obama administration officials didn't say how much the seven countries had cut their oil purchases. In March, U.S. officials signaled that they were seeking reductions of 15% to 22% of purchases.

Several large countries, including India and Turkey, said publicly that they were reluctant to reduce imports of Iranian oil because of their long reliance on the Islamic regime. They appear to have met the minimum level of cooperation that Washington demanded, however.How Much did Turkey actually 'reduce' it's inports??

Answer:
Before May, Turkey was the only buyer in Europe to increase purchases from Iran, while other European refiners cut back on imports of the crude ahead of an impending EU oil embargo due to take effect from July 1.In the first four months of 2012, Turkey imported 210,000 barrels per day of Iranian oil on average, including a huge 270,000 bpd in March, much higher than its 2011 average of 185,000 bpd.

In May Turkey's state-controlled refining company, Tupras, imported around 140,000 barrels per day (bpd), a 20 percent drop from its 2011 average, according to the latest shipping data, obtained by Reuters. Port data showed 152,000 tonnes of Iranian crude was delivered to the port of Aliaga in May, while 443,000 tonnes of Iranian crude was delivered to its second import terminal, Tutunciflik. Tupras is expected to import the same volume in June.
From July 1, Turkey will remain effectively the sole buyer of Iranian crude in Europe. Official trade data showed that in the first four months of this year, Iran accounted for about 58 percent of Turkey's near 6 million tonnes in total crude imports.
THIS REDUCTION IS A PURE SMOKESCREEN APPROVED BY THE OBAMA ADMIN!

"Sanctions That Benefit Obama's BFF Turkey" - Iran Bypassing Sanctions on its Oil, Aided by Asian Customers and the Obama Admin.

"Sanctions that Benefit" - Iran buys Turkish gold via UAE, economists say.

Total of Gold export by Turkey

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Iran and Syria swap fuels as both aim to dodge sanctions.

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Iran and Syria swap fuels as both aim to dodge sanctions.(TI).Iran and Syria have arranged a gasoline-for-diesel swap, helping each other overcome international sanctions that have cut them off from fuel supplies needed to keep their economies afloat and support their armies, Reuters reported. Tracking data shows that a tanker from Iran arrived in Syria with a cargo of fuel, and a shipper who works in the region said Iran was delivering diesel to Syria in return for gasoline. U.S. and European Union sanctions have virtually ground Syria's trade in oil and refined products to a halt, while Iran is struggling to sell its crude as buyers around the world cut purchases. Syria's economy has been strangled by a lack of diesel needed to power heavy vehicles and machinery used in industries and farming.
Iran's rial faced collapse earlier this month in a sign that economic pressure on the government is building and that oil sales to some of its best customers are in decline. An Iranian oil tanker called the Hillari arrived in the port of Banias a week ago and delivered a 34,500 tonne cargo of gasoil, an industry term for diesel, the shipper said and tracking data showed. The vessel has now finished loading a similarly sized cargo of gasoline at the Syrian port, the shipper said, and is likely to be bound for Iran, where it will complete another round trip between the two countries with precious supplies of fuel.
While both countries are oil exporters, they lack the capacity to refine certain types of fuel. Syria's light crude means it produces more gasoline and naphtha than it needs, freeing up volumes for export. Iran's sour crude by contrast, is easily refined into heavier fuels such as diesel, leaving it short of gasoline to run vehicles.
As a result, the countries are perfectly matched to swap fuels. A similar trade occurred over the summer, when the same tanker, operating with a different name, arrived in Syria at the end of June and departed in early July to complete an exchange of fuel. The vessel in April made at least one other round trip between Syria and Iran after tighter Western sanctions cut off a stream of Russian deliveries to Syria.Read the full story here.

Lawmaker: Iran may use oil to counter EU hostilities.

Lawmaker: Iran may use oil to counter EU hostilities.(TI).In the wake of the European Union (EU)'s illegal sanctions on Iran over its nuclear energy program, a senior Iranian lawmaker says the Islamic Republic will use oil to counter the hostilities of the 27-nation bloc, PressTV reported. "If Iran intends to retaliate against Europeans, it has the capability to; but we do not want to do that because the European people will face problems," Chairman of the Majlis Energy Committee Massoud Mir-Kazemi said on Wednesday.
However, Iran will retaliate in case the European Union continues its obstinacy, he added. "When the Westerners use oil as a political tool, they should know that oil is Iran's political tool not theirs, because it is Iran that possesses oil," the legislator added. Mir-Kazemi said that Iran seeks to meet its demands through non-oil resources. The lawmaker's remark came after Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi warned on Wednesday that Tehran would halt its oil exports if more sanctions were imposed on the country. If the West continues "to add to the sanctions, we will stop our oil exports to the world... The dearth of Iranian oil in the market will increase the price drastically," Qasemi stated. The illegal US-engineered sanctions were imposed based on the unfounded accusation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program. Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.Read the full story here.

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Obama's BFF Turkey: "Turkish gold trade booms to Iran, via Dubai."

"Sanctions That Benefit" - Obama's BFF Turkey: "Turkish gold trade booms to Iran, via Dubai."(TI).Couriers carrying millions of dollars worth of gold bullion in their luggage have been flying from Istanbul to Dubai, where the gold is shipped on to Iran, according to industry sources with knowledge of the business, Reuters reported.

The sums involved are enormous. Official Turkish trade data suggests nearly $2 billion worth of gold was sent to Dubai on behalf of Iranian buyers in August. The shipments help Tehran manage its finances in the face of Western financial sanctions. 

The sanctions, imposed over Iran's disputed nuclear program, have largely frozen it out of the global banking system, making it hard for it to conduct international money transfers. By using physical gold, Iran can continue to move its wealth across borders. "Every currency in the world has an identity, but gold means value without identity. The value is absolute wherever you go," said a trader in Dubai with knowledge of the gold trade between Turkey and Iran. The identity of the ultimate destination of the gold in Iran is not known. But the scale of the operation through Dubai and its sudden growth suggest the Iranian government plays a role. The Dubai trader and other sources familiar with the business spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, because of the political and commercial sensitivity of the matter. Iran sells oil and gas to Turkey, with payments made to state Iranian institutions. U.S. and European banking sanctions ban payments in U.S. dollars or euros so Iran gets paid in Turkish lira.
Lira are of limited value for buying goods on international markets but ideal for a gold buying spree in Turkey. In March this year, as the banking sanctions began to bite, Tehran sharply increased its purchases of gold bullion from Turkey, according to the Turkish government's trade data. Direct gold exports to Iran from Turkey, long a major consumer and stockpiler of gold, hit $1.8 billion in July - equivalent to over a fifth of Turkey's entire trade deficit in that month.
In August, however, a sudden plunge in Turkey's direct gold exports to Iran coincided with a leap in its sales of the precious metal to the UAE.
Turkey exported a total $2.3 billion worth of gold in August, of which $2.1 billion was gold bullion. Just over $1.9 billion, about 36 metric tons, was sent to the UAE, latest available data from Turkey's Statistics Office shows. In July Turkey exported only $7 million of gold to the UAE. At the same time Turkey's direct gold exports to Iran, which had been fluctuating between $1.2 billion and about $1.8 billion each month since April, slumped to just $180 million in August. 
The Dubai-based trader said that from August, direct shipments to Iran were largely replaced by indirect ones through Dubai, apparently because Tehran wanted to avoid publicity. "The trade from Turkey directly to Iran has stopped because there was just too much publicity around it," said the trader. Dealers, jewellejewelersrs and analysts in Dubai said they had not noticed any large, sudden increase of supply in the local gold market during August. They said that suggested the increased shipments to the UAE were sent straight on to Iran. It is not clear how the gold is moved from Dubai to Iran, but there is substantial trade between the two economies, much of it conducted by wooden dhows and other ships crossing the Gulf, a distance of only about 150 kilometers (100 miles) at its narrowest point.
A trader in Turkey said Tehran had shifted to indirect imports because the direct shipments were widely reported in Turkish and international media earlier this year. "Now on paper it looks like the gold is going to Dubai, not to Iran," he said. Iranian gold buyers may want to conceal their Turkish gold deliveries for fear of attracting attention from the United States, which is pressing countries around the world to shrink their economic ties with Iran. The buyers may also want to make their purchases less vulnerable to any possible interference by Turkey's government. Turkey's close relationship with Iran has begun to sour as the two states find themselves on opposite sides of the civil war in Syria, with Turkey advocating the departure of President Bashar al-Assad and Iran remaining Assad's staunchest regional ally. There is no suggestion that the gold trade means Dubai is violating international sanctions against Iran. United Nations sanctions ban shipments of nuclear-related materials to Iran and freeze the assets of some Iranian individuals and companies, but they do not prohibit most forms of trade. The UAE has not yet released its trade data for August. Officials at the Dubai customs authority could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts to contact them.
Turkish trade data confirms the gold is being transported to Dubai by air. According to the data, $1.45 billion of Turkey's total gold exports in August were shipped through the customs office at Ataturk airport's passenger lounge. Almost all of the rest, $800 million, were shipped from Istanbul's smaller Sabiha Gokcen airport. Turkey's total exports of all goods to the UAE totaled $2.2 billion in August. Of that amount, $1.19 billion were registered at the Ataturk passenger lounge, while $776 million were registered at Sabiha Gokcen.
A customs broker who does business at Ataturk said couriers were boarding Turkish Airlines and Emirates flights to Dubai at the airport, carrying the metal in their hand luggage to avoid the risk of it getting lost or stolen. The maximum amount of gold bullion which a passenger is allowed to take is 50 kilograms (110 pounds), he said. This suggests that during the month of August, as many as several hundred courier trips may have taken gold to Dubai on Iran's behalf. "It is all legal, they declare it, they give their tax number and it is all registered so there is nothing illegal about this," the broker said. "At the moment there's quite a lot of traffic to Dubai. During September and October we have also been seeing this." The trade data shows almost $1.4 billion worth of Turkey's August exports to the UAE came from a company or companies with a tax number registered in the coastal city of Izmir, Turkey's third biggest. Customs officials at Ataturk declined a Reuters request to provide documents identifying the exporters, saying the information was confidential.Hmmmm.........“Thank God Almighty,” said Mr. Erdogan in 1994, when he was the mayor of Istanbul. “I am a servant of Shariah.” Read the full story here.

Related: "Sanctions That Benefit Obama's BFF Turkey" - Iran Bypassing Sanctions on its Oil, Aided by Asian Customers and the Obama Admin. 

             As expected Obama will give BFF Turkey a waiver from sanctions, they 'only' import 45 percent of their oil from Iran and aid Iran avoiding sanctions.

Iran says it may stop oil sales if sanctions tighten.

Iran says it may stop oil sales if sanctions tighten.(JPost).DUBAI - Iran said on Tuesday it would stop oil exports if pressure from Western sanctions got any tighter and it had a "Plan B" contingency strategy to survive without oil revenues. Western nations led by the United States have imposed tough sanctions on the Islamic Republic this year in an attempt to curb its nuclear program that they say is designed to produce an atomic bomb. Tehran says its nuclear plans are peaceful. "If sanctions intensify we will stop exporting oil," Iranian oil minister Rostam Qasemi told reporters in Dubai. Qasemi's statement is the latest in a series of threats of retaliation by Tehran in response to the sanctions, which have heightened political tensions across the Middle East and, analysts say, led to a sharp drop in Iranian oil exports. "We have prepared a plan to run the country without any oil revenues," Qasemi said, adding, "So far to date we haven't had any serious problems, but if the sanctions were to be renewed we would go for 'Plan B'. "If you continue to add to the sanctions we (will) cut our oil exports to the world."
Iran's official inflation rate last month, according to its central bank, was 24 percent, though analysts believe the real rate may be double. Iran has in the past said it could shut the vital shipping lane of Hormuz at the head of the Middle East Gulf, through which much of the region's seaborne oil exports pass. Earlier on Tuesday, Qasemi said Iran was still producing 4 million barrels per day (bpd), rejecting reports the country's output has fallen to around 2.7 million bpd. According to the latest secondary source estimates published by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Iran pumped just 2.72 bpd in September, and Iran's own data submitted to OPEC showed the country produced 3.75 million bpd in August. But Qasemi said Iran was pumping oil at full capacity: "It is currently 4 million barrels per day," Qasemi said, declining to give export figures. "Iran has been facing US sanctions for 30 years while successfully managing its oil sector," he said.Read the full story here.

Iran considers flooding the Persian Gulf with massive oil spill'.

Iran considers flooding the Persian Gulf with massive oil spill'.HT: IsraelMatzav.A report in the German-language Der Spiegel claims that Iran is considering deliberately spilling oil into the Persian Gulf in response to international sanctions against it. Iran is considering the possibility of spilling oil in the Persian Gulf in order to contaminate the waters of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, German weekly Der Spiegel reported on Sunday.
The spill would be a way of "punishing" the West and forcing it to decrease the economic sanctions imposed against Tehran.
Citing Western intelligence sources, Der Spiegel reported that the plan, codenamed "Murky Waters," is meant to block shipping routes in the Gulf to international oil tankers. In addition to driving up oil prices, the resulting environmental disaster would force Western countries to start a large-scale cleanup operation in cooperation with Iran, which could reduce the sanctions currently placed on the country. The plan was developed by the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, and Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, according to the report. Der Spiegel reported that the decision on whether or not to implement the plan was now in the hands of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Read the full story here.

Sanction DO have an Effect - 'Iran in talks with Egypt to unload oil stockpiles'.....Please send U'S. Tax Dollars.

Sanction DO have an Effect - 'Iran in talks with Egypt to unload oil stockpiles'.....Please send U'S. Tax Dollars.(JPost).Iran is in talks to sell its excess oil to Egypt, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday, as the country's stockpiles continue to grow due to Western embargoes. According to the report, Tehran approached Cairo to sell two million barrels of oil, worth over $200 million, and that negotiations over the deal are ongoing. "Between Iran and Egypt, there is some discussion," the Journal quoted an unnamed official in Tehran as saying. "There is the idea they [will] import some oil from Iran."
Diplomatic relations between Cairo and Tehran broke down immediately after Iran's revolution due to Egypt's support for the overthrown Shah and its peace agreement with Israel. However, the relationship could be thawing after Egyptian President Mohamad Morsy visited Tehran last month for the Non-Aligned Movement conference, marking the first such visit by an Egyptian leader since Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979. Last week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad admitted that Iran is having problems selling its oil, the latest high-level confession that Western economic sanctions are taking their toll on the Iranian economy. The Iranian president, however, expressed confidence his country would continue to survive the Western attempts against it. "We have oil and the world needs it," he said. Meanwhile Turkey’s imports of Iranian crude oil have jumped in August, ignoring possible friction with the U.S., after hitting a multi-year low in July, using Iranian-owned tankers.Hmmmm......Sanctions that benefit Obama's BFF.Read the full story here