[caption id="attachment_25966" align="alignright" width="300"] A file photo showing gas flare of an Iranain oil production platform[/caption]
Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi says the illegal US-engineered sanctions have not impacted the Islamic Republic’s crude oil production.
Qasemi made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the 163rd ordinary OPEC session in the Austrian capital Vienna on Friday.
“The West’s sanctions and unilateral pressure have not had any influence on crude oil production,” the Iranian oil minister said, adding, “Iran, which was a petroleum importer once, has turned into a petroleum exporter now, and is marketing for its petroleum and other oil products.”
He added that the country’s crude oil export has decreased slightly, but the small amount is being used for the production of oil products for export.

Iran’s crude oil is subject to a European Union embargo that started on July 1, 2012, which also bars EU insurance firms from covering Iran's exports.

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 com

mitted signatory to the nuclear 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.

In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.

With 137.6 billion barrels of proven reserves, Iran has the world's fourth largest oil reserves, and the second largest gas reserves, estimated at 29.61 trillion cubic meters.

By Press TV

 

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