Tasnim denies Reuters report about ships not unloading cargo at Iranian ports
Hours after Reuters reported that around 20 grain ships were stranded outside Iranian ports and unable to unload their cargo due to US banking sanctions, Tasnim news agency, citing an "informed official", called the report "false".
Reuters reported on Thursday, October 11, that the new round of US sanctions against Iran has caused problems in the supply of essential goods in Iran, and about 20 ships carrying grain have been stranded outside Bandar Abbas and Imam Khomeini Port for more than a month.
Following the publication of this report, the Tasnim news agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, quoting "an informed official in Khuzestan Province," called it a "lie."
"This unnamed informed official" told Tasnim that it is true that ships carrying essential goods are stopping at "Imam Khomeini Port," but the reason for this is not sanctions but the full "capacity of the warehouses" in this port.
According to the Tasnim news agency, these ships carrying essential goods are "queuing to unload their cargo" outside Imam Khomeini Port.
This "informed official" also claimed that with the "change in import policies," "large shipments" of basic goods have arrived at Imam Khomeini Port, and that the possibility of a disruption in the unloading process is because "the capacity of the port's warehouses has not yet changed."
Tasnim News Agency did not provide further explanation about "changes in import policies" and "changes in trade policy to meet the needs of basic goods," and merely referred to some statistics on Iran's foreign trade in recent months.
According to Tasnim, although Iran's imports decreased in the first half of this year compared to previous years, "the import of basic goods has grown significantly."
Tasnim News Agency also reported, citing the "Ports Organization", that the rate of unloading and loading of basic goods at Imam Khomeini Port has "increased by 34 percent."
Reuters reported that the ships that were stopped outside Imam Khomeini Port were carrying about one million tons of grain, including soybeans and corn, most of which was purchased from South American countries.
Reuters reported, citing Iranian and Western sources, that the reason for the delay in these ships was new problems with payments to companies such as Bang and the Chinese company Kafuku.
According to the same report, new banking problems began after the new round of US sanctions against Iran, and now an additional fee of $15,000 per day must be paid for this delay.
After withdrawing from the JCPOA, the United States reinstated all sanctions against Iran and adopted a policy of maximum pressure against the Islamic Republic; however, American officials say that these sanctions do not include pharmaceuticals, food, and other humanitarian items.
Reuters noted in its report that despite statements by US officials, sanctions have caused most financial institutions and international banks to refrain from conducting any business transactions with Iran.
Source: Radio Farda
