An Iranian lawmaker has downplayed the impact of US-led sanctions on Iranâ„¢s oil exports, saying the bans harm US companies rather than the Islamic Republic.
Å“Sanctions are no obstacle to Iran oil sales, but imposing bans on Iranian oil will harm many US companies,” Seyyed Hossein Dehdashti, a member of the presiding board of Iran Majlis Energy Committee, stated on Thursday.
The Iranian legislator added that the Western countries are applying pressure to prevent the export of oil from Iran, but the Å“resolve of the Iranian nation and officials” will thwart their efforts.
Dehdashti also stressed that the Washingtonâ„¢s latest decision to exempt a number of countries from bans on Iran oil imports is aimed at placating protests from international buyers.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry extended exemptions from Washington’s sanctions on Iran for nine economies, namely China, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Taiwan.
Kerry said the exemptions would be valid for 180 days. These economies were previously granted six months of exemptions in December.
At the beginning of 2012, the US and the European Union imposed new sanctions on Iranâ„¢s oil and financial sectors with the goal of preventing other countries from purchasing Iranian oil and conducting transactions with the Central Bank of Iran.
The illegal US-engineered sanctions were imposed based on the accusation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program. Iran has repeatedly rejected the allegation and argues that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and an IAEA member, it has all the rights to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
MRS/SS/HMV
This article originally appeared on: Press TV