Turkey's trade with Iran does not run counter to the sanctions imposed on Iran, U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said yesterday at a daily briefing.
"Turkey is a neighbor of Iran," he said. "It does have an economic relationship with Iran, and, in fact, there are categories where trade between countries and Iran are fully authorized."
Crowley added that Turkey has indicated publicly that it will abide by its international obligations.
The U.N. Security Council voted for a new resolution, which provides for toughening sanctions against Tehran due to its refusal to stop uranium enrichment on June 9.
Twelve of 15 U.N. Security Council members voted on toughening measures aimed at halting Iran's uranium enrichment program. Sanctions were supported by the five world powers (Russia, the United States, China, France, and the UK). Turkey and Brazil voted against the sanctions.
In addition to inspections on Iranian ships and restricting the country's shipping, the document envisages sanctions against Iranian banks abroad if there is suspicion that they are involved in the development of Iran's nuclear or missile programs.
The resolution also calls for vigilance in carrying out transactions involving Iranian banks, including the Central Bank of Iran, and contains a call, not a demand, for countries to block financial transactions with Iran, including in the sphere of insurance.
Later, the U.S. Congress adopted unilateral sanctions against Iran, and in July, the foreign ministers of all of the EU countries approved additional sanctions against Iran at a meeting in Luxembourg.
The limitations include freezing investments in the oil and gas sector and banning the transfer of industrial technologies and the provision of profile services. In terms of trade, a ban was proposed on the export of products that may be used for military purposes.
The EU has also decided to impose new visa restrictions and to freeze the bank accounts of members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.
In addition, a ban was proposed on Iranian banks against operating in EU countries. The EU also compiled a "blacklist" of more than 40 prominent Iranian politicians who are not allowed to enter into the EU.