The US asked its allies to reduce oil imports from Iran to zero by November.
A senior US State Department official said on Tuesday, July 25, that countries that buy Iranian oil must stop all imports from the country starting in November (November 4) and the resumption of US sanctions against Tehran.
Asked whether the United States would pressure its allies to reduce oil imports from Iran to zero by November, the American official said: "Yes."
The American official, who declined to be named in the report, added in an interview with reporters: "Our goal is to cut off Iran's revenue streams and highlight its harmful actions in the region."
He added that a delegation of American officials will travel to the Persian Gulf countries next week to ensure that the global market does not face a shortage following the interruption of Iranian oil shipments.
The US State Department official warned foreign capitals that Washington would not grant "any exemptions" to countries importing oil from Iran, and described tightening sanctions on Iran as "one of the top national security priorities" of the United States.
Iran exported 2.125 million barrels of crude oil and about 400,000 barrels of gas condensate per day last year. About a third of these shipments went to Europe, and the rest went to Iran's Asian customers, including China, India, South Korea and Japan.
These figures have continued at almost the same rate and proportion for the first half of this year.
According to the latest assessment by the International Monetary Fund, published before the US withdrew from the JCPOA, Iran exported nearly $50 billion in oil last year, and this year, this figure was expected to reach $63.7 billion, or nearly 60 percent of the country's total exports.
US President Donald Trump officially announced on May 8 that the United States would withdraw from the nuclear deal with Iran and reinstate suspended sanctions against Tehran.
The United States is pressuring European and Asian countries, especially India, Japan, and China, to reduce their trade relations with Iran and cut off oil imports from the country.
Source: Radio Farda
