Tasnim Denies Reuters Report on Failure to Unload Ships at Iranian Ports
Hours after Reuters reported that approximately 20 grain-carrying ships remain stranded outside Iranian ports and are unable to unload their cargo due to American banking sanctions, the Tasnim news agency, citing an “informed source,” called the report a “lie.”
On Thursday, October 2nd, Reuters had reported that a new round of American sanctions against Iran has created difficulties in supplying essential goods to Iran, with about 20 grain-carrying ships stranded outside Bandar Abbas and “Imam Khomeini Port” for more than a month.
Following the publication of this report, Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, called it a “lie” citing “an informed source in Khuzestan Province.”
This “informed source,” whose name was not mentioned, told Tasnim that the stoppage of ships carrying essential goods at “Imam Khomeini Port” is accurate, but the reason is not sanctions but rather the full “warehouse capacity” at the port.
According to Tasnim, these ships carrying essential goods outside Imam Khomeini Port are “in the queue to unload their cargo.”
This “informed source” also claimed that with “changes in import policies,” “large shipments” of essential goods have arrived at Imam Khomeini Port, and the possibility of delays in the unloading process is because “the port’s warehouse capacity has not yet changed.”
Tasnim provided no further explanation regarding the “changes in import policies” and “changes in commercial policy to meet the need for essential goods,” and merely referred to some statistics on Iran’s foreign trade in recent months.
According to Tasnim, although Iran’s import volume in the first half of this year decreased compared to previous years, “the import volume of essential goods has shown significant growth.”
Tasnim also reported, citing the “Port Authority,” that the unloading and loading of essential goods at Imam Khomeini Port has had “34 percent growth.”
Reuters reported in its report that ships stranded outside Imam Khomeini Port are carrying approximately one million tons of grain, including soybeans and corn, most of which have been purchased from South American countries.
Reuters reported, citing Iranian and Western sources, that the reason for the delay of these ships is the emergence of new problems in payments to companies such as “Bang” and Chinese company “Cofco.”
According to the same report, new banking problems began after a new round of American sanctions against Iran, and now an additional $15,000 per day must be paid for this delay.
After withdrawing from the JCPOA, America has reinstated all sanctions against Iran and adopted a policy of maximum pressure against the Islamic Republic; however, American officials say these sanctions do not include medicines, food, and other humanitarian items.
In its report, Reuters recalled that despite statements by American officials, sanctions have caused most financial institutions and international banks to refrain from conducting any commercial transactions with Iran.
Source: Radio Farda
