Reuters: US in Negotiations with China to Reduce Oil Purchases from Iran

An unnamed US official told Reuters that the country is in negotiations with China to reduce oil purchases from Iran. A European official also confirmed that Wendy Sherman was present during these negotiations when visiting China.

An unnamed official from the US government told Reuters that the United States is engaged in diplomatic talks with China aimed at reducing oil purchases from Iran. These talks are taking place simultaneously with US efforts to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table for a return to the JCPOA.

According to this American official, China’s purchase of Iranian oil allows the Islamic Republic to keep its economy afloat despite US sanctions, while the purpose of these sanctions is to pressure Iran to return to the negotiating table.

The US government official told Reuters: “We are aware of Iranian oil purchases by Chinese companies….We will use our sanctioning authorities to counter circumvention of Iran sanctions, including those trading with China, and we will continue to do so if necessary.”

However, he clarified that this approach continues diplomacy with China as part of US negotiations regarding Iran and added: “Although we believe this method is generally more effective in addressing our concerns.”

Meanwhile, a European official told Reuters that he was present during the visit of Wendy Sherman, US Deputy Secretary of State, to China in late July. This unnamed European official said that China is protecting Iran and the West’s current problem is determining how much oil Beijing is buying from Tehran.

The US State Department did not respond to Reuters’ inquiry on this matter.

Commodity analysis firm Kpler estimated that China’s Iranian oil purchases in August reached 553,000 barrels per day.

Efforts to Resume Vienna Negotiations

Simultaneously, the US is also indirectly attempting to return to the JCPOA. Negotiations on this matter began in April between Iran and Britain, Germany, France, Russia, and China with indirect US participation in Vienna and were suspended after six rounds in June ahead of Iran’s presidential election.

A French diplomat told reporters on Tuesday, September 28, that Iran should return to Vienna negotiations as soon as possible. This French official emphasized: “At this stage, we need to remain in close and continuous contact with all JCPOA members, including Russia and China.”

According to this French diplomat: “Specifically, we expect China to articulate its position more clearly and act with greater determination. We must put more pressure on Iran and this is necessary.”

It remains unclear to what extent China will support any potential US diplomatic measures regarding Iran.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson in a press statement on September 24 attributed responsibility more to the US than to Iran. In a statement released by the ministry regarding his remarks, it stated: “As the initiator of a new round of tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, the US must correct its mistaken policy of maximum pressure on Iran and lift all illegal sanctions against Iran […] and focus on continuing negotiations and achieving results in a short timeframe.”

Source: DW