Controversy Over Report That “Exposes” Methods of Circumventing Sanctions
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting has denied published reports claiming to reveal details of a confidential oil deal and methods of circumventing American sanctions.
A controversy over the broadcast of a report on state television has intensified at a time when Iran’s oil exports have sharply declined due to American sanctions, and Islamic Republic leaders are seeking alternative ways to sell oil.
Earlier, some Iranian media outlets reported that during the “Salam, Sobh Bakhair” program on the third channel of IRIB, the program’s host revealed the route of an oil tanker by showing aerial images, tracing a ship carrying oil that was circumventing American sanctions and delivering its cargo to China.
In this program, it was stated that the ship named “Salina” delivered one million barrels of oil to Chinese buyers.
However, the public relations office of “Salam, Sobh Bakhair” denied the allegations of disclosing classified national information hours after these reports were published.
In a statement from the public relations office of “Salam, Sobh Bakhair,” it was said that information about this ship and the confidential sale of Iranian oil to a Chinese buyer had previously been “published in the form of a report with satellite images in the international publication Financial Times along with photos and more complete details.”
The statement said: “If the ship is to be tracked by the Americans, this should have happened a week earlier, and there is no need for the ‘Salam, Sobh Bakhair’ program to remind the American side in the Persian language.”
The broadcast of this information comes at a time when Iran’s Ministry of Petroleum has previously insisted on protecting information and “oil secrets” and has been unwilling to reveal “classified information about circumventing sanctions.”
Bijan Zanganeh, Iran’s Oil Minister, had previously remained silent on questions regarding the volume of Iran’s oil production and sales, saying he was not willing to disclose information in this regard.
Zanganeh said in a speech last March: “I cannot say how we circumvent sanctions, because it is harmful to the nation. Some people say you are not working, but we do not reveal our plans. We provide no information because the enemy will use it against us.”
Source: DW
