International sanctions against Iran are ineffective and the country is pressing ahead with imports and exports of gasoline, but it would like the oil price to be higher, Iranian oil minister said on Thursday.
Reuters quoted Masoud Mirkazemi as saying that, "Iran is both importing and exporting gasoline. If some cargoes are arriving at the ports, then how could the sanctions be effective?"
The comments were made on the sidelines of a meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Doha.
Iran is the second-largest oil exporter in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the second-biggest gas reserve holder in the GECF.
Iranin officials have said measures introduced this year have made it self-sufficient in gasoline.
Analysts and traders agree imports of gasoline have fallen drastically, but still think Iran needs imports for now.
"Some believed that we couldn't increase our gasoline production, but we did and you can see that our imports have gone down," Mirkazemi said.
"We import and export gasoline. There are some private companies inside of Iran that export gasoline."
GECF talks in Doha Thursday focused on the need for higher gas prices, which have lagged the oil market.
Record output cuts from OPEC member countries agreed in December 2008 helped the oil market to rally from a low of little more than $30 a barrel to around $87 a barrel Thursday.
But for Mirkazemi, the price is still too low for producer countries, heavily dependent on oil revenue and needing to invest in new supplies.
"Based on real prices compared to the 1970s price, it is not reasonable today. We look at real prices not nominal prices," Mirkazemi said.