President Obama’s best friend among Middle East leaders wants an exemption from tough US sanctions against purchasers of Iranian oil that are due to come into effect at the end of June (Hat Tip: Joshua I).
“Turkey’s absence from the United States waiver list regarding the Iran issue doesn’t mean it will not be included,” [Turkish Energy Minister Taner] Yıldız told reporters at an energy conference in Ankara.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan plans to raise the issue with US President Barack Obama during a nuclear security summit in South Korea later this month, Turkish officials told Reuters.
Diplomatic sources in Ankara told Today’s Zaman that the Turkish government officials have been continuing their efforts to have Turkey included in the waiver list of Washington.
Turkey imports around 200,000 barrels per day of oil from Iran, representing over 7 percent of Iran’s oil exports. Yıldız said Turkey would continue to buy oil from Iran until existing contracts expire.
The United States exempted Japan and 10 EU nations from financial sanctions because they have significantly cut purchases of Iranian crude oil, but left Iran’s top customers China and India exposed to the possibility of such steps.
The decision announced on Tuesday is a victory for the 11 countries, whose banks have been given a six-month reprieve from the threat of being cut off from the US financial system under new sanctions designed to pressure Iran over its nuclear program.
Yıldız said Turkey could not halt purchasing from Iran unless other suppliers were lined up.
The Republican Presidential candidates ought to be making a big deal out of this. Giving out all those exemptions – and there probably will be more – is effectively gutting sanctions that passed the Senate over Obama’s objections by 100-0.
via Israel Matzav: Turkey wants US exemption from Iran sanctions.