Tehran, Iran, Aug. 17
By Mehdi Sepahvand – Trend:
Iran has received all of its petrodollars from the post-sanctions sales and no oil money of the country has been blocked in foreign banks since the nuclear deal, the country’s Deputy Oil Minister Ali Kardor said.
“Currently, Europe is paying the oil money in full and if the sale is conducted through international brokers, we receive the oil money as advance payment before delivering the cargo,” he stated, Mehr news agency reported Aug. 17.
Kardor also pointed to Iran’s oil deals with India, saying India, too, has paid Iran in full since the sanctions were lifted.
He noted, however, that India has not yet changed the currency in which it pays Iran and still goes on settling oil debts to Iran with rupees.
Iran has not given any advantages to buyers, because if it does, the market will be quickly informed and prices will be affected, he stated.
He also criticized Saudi Arabia for trying to own Iran’s oil markets.
“Our rival, Saudi Arabia, identifies our markets and then quickly starts talks with new oil buyers and tries to gain that market by offering special discounts,” Kardor said. “That is why we cannot yet reveal the names of our oil customers, especially the European ones. This is an inimical competition and Saudi Arabia’s stances are a threat to us.”