In comments at meeting of World Petroleum Council (WPC) experts in Tehran, deputy of Iran’s oil minister for international and mercantile affairs, Amir Hossein Zamaninia, dismissed the notion that Iran’s oil output could be replaced by the other producers.
“The notion that certain countries could fill the vacuum of Iranian oil is wrong in various technical and political terms,” he underlined.
He further stressed that the Persian Gulf will remain an international route for oil shipments as long as all countries, not a few certain ones, would be able to use it.
In comments on April 24, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said the US’ attempts to block the export of Iranian oil will get nowhere as Tehran will be exporting any amount of crude it needs and wants.
Describing a cut in Iran’s reliance on the export of oil as an opportunity, the Leader said such an opportunity will be used for further reliance on internal capabilities.
“Although the sanctions pave the way for problems in certain cases, they will benefit the country if they are dealt with correctly and logically,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Last week, the White House said that US President Donald Trump "has decided not to reissue" waivers regarding sanctions against countries importing Iranian oil when the waivers expire in early May.