The US confirmed that Iran’s oil exports will remain within the limits outlined in the Joint Plan of Action issued by Iran and the P5+1 nations. The announcement follows speculation by a number of analysts that Iran was exporting significantly more oil than it was allowed to under the temporary deal.
The remarks from a senior U.S. official came ahead of a new round of senior-level negotiations between Iran and the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia in Vienna on April 8-9. It will be the third round of talks this year in the Austrian capital on a long-term deal with Iran.
Iran’s oil exports have stayed above levels allowed under Western sanctions for a fifth month, the latest sign that the limited sanctions relief agreed upon in November is helping Tehran sell more crude, according to sources who track tanker movements.
Under the interim nuclear deal agreed in November in Geneva, Iran’s exports are supposed to be held at an average 1 million barrels per day for the six months to July 20. But shipments to Asia have topped that level at least since November, according to ship tracking data.
The senior US official said the United States had always expected fluctuations and was focusing on aggregate, not short-term, data.
Diplomats and intelligence officials say that while Iran has been negotiating with the six powers, it has kept up its efforts to circumvent the sanctions.
The latest example of that was announced by the U.S. Justice Department on Friday. It said that a Chinese citizen faces U.S. criminal charges that he conspired to export to Iran products that could be used in that country’s nuclear program.
The senior official also reiterated U.S. concerns about reports Russia and Iran may be making progress on an oil-for-goods barter deal worth as much as $20 billion, saying it appeared inconsistent with the November deal and that if it went ahead, Washington could impose sanctions on those involved.
The aim of the Vienna negotiations is to hammer out a long-term deal by July 20 that would limit the scope of Iran’s nuclear program in return for a lifting of sanctions that have crippled its oil-dependent economy.
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