‘Sanctions unlikely to stop Iran oil exports completely’

Current US sanctions on Iran are unlikely to stop Iranian oil exports completely, a long-time adviser at Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said yesterday, adding Iran would be unable to close the straits of Hormuz and Bab El Mandab even partially.

Speaking at an oil conference in the Norwegian city of Stavanger, Ibrahim Al-Muhanna said Iran would be the first to lose out on a move to block those major shipping routes and that any such action would trigger further sanctions on Iran.

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“Current sanctions are unlikely to stop Iranian oil exports completely, as almost all experts agree. I mean, they will continue to export one million [barrels per day] or so. So closing that Strait of Hormuz will damage the Iranians as much as damaging others,” he said.

Iran has said if it cannot sell its oil due to US pressure, then no other regional country will be allowed to do so either, threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz.

“The amount of oil going through the Strait of Hormuz is so large. There’s more than 18 million barrels a day, about two thirds of world maritime oil trade. Meaning, cutting oil from there will lead to an acute oil shortage and prices will skyrocket,” Al-Muhanna said.

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“Is Iran able or willing to close completely, or even partially, the Strait of Hormuz or Bab El Mandab, or both? The answer is no, and a really big no.”

US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers under which sanctions were lifted in return for Tehran accepting curbs on its nuclear programme. The Trump administration then announced plans to restore sanctions against Tehran.