Iran Earned Billions by Selling Oil Despite US Sanctions, Mohsen Rezaei Claims

TEHRAN: Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has claimed that Iran has sold around 70 million barrels of oil over the past one to two months despite US sanctions and a naval blockade, while continuing to sell oil at a rate equivalent to its daily production.

According to Iran’s state broadcaster Press TV, Rezaei said in a television interview that the US naval blockade was nothing new and that Iran had managed to continue its oil exports despite the restrictions. He claimed that around 70 million barrels of oil had been shipped over the past one to two months and that Iran was continuing to sell oil equivalent to its daily production despite the presence of US naval forces.

Rezaei said Iran would continue taking measures to counter what he described as an American “economic war.” He warned neighbouring countries against joining the US economic campaign against Iran, saying Tehran would first seek negotiations with countries supporting the campaign but could target their interests if they refused to change their position.

The Iranian official further said that if regional countries joined economic measures against Iran, Tehran had the capability to halt oil shipments through the Persian Gulf. He claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was currently closed and would not be reopened until the United States fulfilled what he described as its obligations.

Rezaei also warned the United States that Iran would take action against additional American forces deployed in the region. He said Iran did not seek war but would not surrender in the face of hostile actions and would continue to defend its security and interests.

He said Iran’s defence strategy and diplomatic approach had changed following the recent conflict, adding that the “Iran that existed before the war” no longer existed. According to Rezaei, Tehran would incorporate lessons learned from the recent conflict into its military planning for any future confrontation.

Rezaei said Tehran remained committed to diplomacy, but its approach to negotiations had changed. He claimed that Iran did not expect progress with the United States unless Washington fulfilled its commitments.

The Iranian official said the United States had shifted from military pressure to economic pressure, but argued that Iran had learned over the years how to deal with sanctions and retained the ability to continue selling oil despite economic restrictions.

However, Iran’s claim that it exported 70 million barrels of oil over the past one to two months and earned billions of dollars from those sales has not been independently verified. The figures should therefore be regarded as claims by Rezaei rather than independently confirmed commercial data.