Azerbaijan, Baku, March 3 / Trend M. Moezzi /
Despite the U.S. and European-led sanctions against Iran's oil industry, an Iranian oil tanker carrying 1.5 million barrels of petroleum meant for the Shell oil company has docked in Singapore, Pana news reported with reference to Reuters.
The National Iranian Tanker Company's (NITC) oil tanker "Delvar" docked at Singapore's Bukom Island last Thursday. The Royal Dutch Shell Company's refinery on Bukom Island has the capacity to produce 500,000 barrels of oil a day.
In a letter sent to Reuters, Shell has neither confirmed nor denied that Iran is delivering oil ordered by the company. In previous statements, Shell has said it will join
international sanctions against Iran.
Before docking at Bukom Island, the Delvar transferred around one ton of gas condensates to a Chinese tanker headed to a petrochemical complex operated by China's National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), and Royal Dutch Shell.
The U.S and EU recently imposed tougher sanctions against Iran. They have embargoed Iran's oil industry and petroleum products and the U.S. is pressuring other countries to stop doing business with Iran. In late January, the EU's foreign ministers agreed to stop buying oil from Iran after current contracts run out by July 1.
The West's measures are part of an effort to make Iran answer questions about its nuclear program which it says is peaceful and civilian in nature while the U.S. and its allies contend it is not.