Pointing to the sanctions against Iran’s oil industry, the Iranian minister said Sunday, “The oil industry, under the present circumstances, is facing problems but we have so far overcome many of the problems through efforts by … experts and specialists and by relying on domestic capabilities.”
“Through relying on its competent human resources, the oil industry can rapidly continue on the path of growth and development,” Qasemi added.
The Iranian oil minister said the country's petrochemical industry has made good progress in transporting its products despite the U.S.-led sanctions, which are aimed at eliminating Iran from the global oil market.
At the beginning of 2012, the United States and the European Union imposed new sanctions on Iran’s oil and financial sectors with the goal of preventing other countries from purchasing Iranian oil and conducting transactions with the Central Bank of Iran.
The sanctions came into force in early summer 2012.
In November 2012, the U.S. Senate approved a new round of sanctions against Iran's energy, ports, shipping and shipbuilding sectors.
The illegal U.S.-engineered sanctions have been imposed based on the unfounded accusation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Iran rejects the allegation, arguing that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
MNA
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