Tehran, Iran, Nov.8
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According to an Iranian official, despite the US sanctions, the international ports didn`t break their ties with Iran`s shipping line so far.
"None of the foreign ports have so far announced that they will boycott Iran's ports or prevent Iranian vessels from entering its ports. Its certain that vessels can bypass these sanctions easier than previous ones,” Deputy CEO of the Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) Hadi Haghshenas told ILNA.
"This time we face unilateral US sanctions which are illegally imposed against Iran. The United Nations and European Union do not follow the US in this regard," he said.
The new re-imposed US sanctions have targeted Iran's energy, banking and shipping sectors. However Washington granted temporary six months waivers to eight countries including China, India, Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey to purchase Iran oil.
"The new term of sanctions are completely different from previous ones," Haghshenas said referring to the limits of US sanctions on Iran's maritime industry.
“Currently there is no international rules to prevent the movement of foreign vessels to and from Iran`s ports,” he pointed out.
"There is no problem for maritime communication between countries unless a country wants to cut the ties with Iran, otherwise none of the international laws prevent the ships transportation between Iran and foreign ports,” he said.
The United States is warning other countries not to allow Iranian oil tankers into their territorial waters or ports, saying such access may run afoul of US sanctions and not only incur penalties, but also result in catastrophic economic and environmental damage should an accident occur.
The State Department reminded the global shipping and insurance industries Wednesday that as part of the Trump administration's "maximum pressure campaign" to get Iran to change its behavior, insuring Iranian tankers will now incur penalties under US sanctions reinstated this week.