Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said his country's oil sales were continuing despite the U.S. maritime blockade. Paknejad said shipments were continuing in distant waters outside Iran's territorial waters.
Paknejad's statement followed remarks by Central Bank of Iran Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati on Aug. 20 that oil exports had come to a complete halt. The two Iranian officials therefore made differing public statements about the state of the country's oil exports.
Sales have declined but have not stopped
Paknejad said oil sales had declined because of the U.S. blockade, but stressed that the process was continuing. The minister said developments would be closely monitored and that the necessary steps would be taken to maintain sales.
The Iranian oil minister also said he would not share details about the oil shipments. Paknejad said the information could be "misused by the enemy" and stated that Iranian oil continued to be sold in distant waters outside the country's territorial waters.
Most Iranian oil is shipped to China
Iran exports most of its oil to China. Under the measure described as a U.S. "maritime blockade," Iranian ships are barred from entering or leaving the country's ports.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran
The U.S. Treasury Department announced Monday that it had launched the wide-ranging "Economic Pariah Operation," aimed at completely isolating Iran from the global financial system.
Attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran began on Feb. 28. Iran responded by carrying out attacks against Israel and U.S. targets in the region, and the parties reached a ceasefire agreement in April.
Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz on June 18. However, implementation of the memorandum was disrupted by disagreements over the strait's security.
The United States resumed its attacks on Iran between July 8 and 24. Tehran also targeted military facilities and equipment in Arab countries that it said belonged to the United States.
