Zangeneh on Sanctions: Pressure on the Oil Industry Has Never Been This High

On Thursday, March 7, Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh referred to U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic, stating that pressure on the oil industry has never been as severe as it is now. According to ILNA news agency, Zangeneh said, "I have experienced all bombings, but the pressure we are facing now is more intense, aimed at suffocating us, but they have not succeeded." He added, "We are currently engaged in a full-scale war, which differs from other wars in that there are no casualties or injuries. At this moment, we are under the highest level of sanctions. I have been a minister since 1983 and have witnessed that pressure on the oil industry has never been this high." The U.S. withdrew from the nuclear deal known as the JCPOA on May 8 and implemented oil sanctions against Tehran in November. Reports indicate that Iran's oil exports have plummeted from 2.5 million barrels per day to about one million barrels since the sanctions began. Meanwhile, the U.S. has granted waivers to eight countries to continue limited purchases of Iranian oil until May of next year, and it remains unclear what decision the U.S. will make after the waivers expire. The Iranian oil minister stated, "I was present in the region when the Jihad warehouse in Alvar Garmasir was attacked in 1985; I must say that the pressures now are much greater than military attacks." He emphasized that the main target of the U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic today is the oil industry, saying, "The Americans want to achieve two things: first, to prevent Iran from selling its oil or reduce its oil exports, and second, to make it impossible for us to transfer oil revenues, but they have not succeeded due to the resistance of the people." The U.S. has allowed Iranian oil customers to deposit payments into a bank account in their own countries, and Iran can only use these funds for humanitarian imports (food, medicine, etc.). Zangeneh also addressed criticisms of the Oil Ministry for not releasing information, stating, "Currently, pressure on the oil industry is greater than ever, and I do not disclose information; this harms me, but the proud nation remains strong." He said he cannot disclose how they are circumventing sanctions, as it would be detrimental to the nation. "Some say you are not working, but we do not reveal our plans. Today I am suffering, but the proud nation remains strong. We work day and night and are developing the oil industry. We even bring in foreign investors, but we do not announce it."