Accessibility links

Breaking News

Iran Denies Demanding 1.5 Million Barrels Of Oil Export To Stay In Nuclear Deal


Abbas Mousavi, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman. File photo
Abbas Mousavi, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman. File photo

Iran's foreign ministry on Tuesday May 14 denied reports that Tehran will stay in the nuclear deal with the West only if it can export at least 1.5 million barrels of oil per day.

Reuters had quoted "four European diplomatic sources" on Monday that Iran has set the condition for continuing its commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Iranian oil exports in November 2018, after it withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement.

FM spokesman Abbas Mousavi called the story "fabricated news" adding that "disseminating inaccurate stories is not constructive and will ruin the atmosphere needed for diplomacy."

Reuters had reported that the condition was put forward during an Iranian delegation's meeting with Western officials. According to Reuters, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was present at the meeting, adding that the condition was not put forward in writing.

Mousavi noted that Iran's official view on the matter has been already expressed in the Iranian President's letter to the heads of the remaining countries in the JCPOA, namely Russia, China, UK, France and Germany.

In the confidential letter the full text of which has not been disclosed by JCPOA members, President Hassan Rouhani had announced Tehran's partial withdrawal from some of its obligations under the JCPOA.

Based on the letter, Iran has given the remaining JCPOA members 60 days to help Iran secure its interests in the areas of oil export and international banking. Europe has rejected Tehran's ultimatum, but has said it will continue respecting the JCPOA.

The U.S. has vowed to bring Iran's oil export down to zero, in a bid to force Iran to return to the negotiating table and agree to a new nuclear deal.

XS
SM
MD
LG