29 Mar 2024
Thursday 12 December 2013 - 14:11
Story Code : 70955

As sanctions ease, Iran sees oil exports jump

Iranian oil exports rose 10 percent in November after sanctions against the Islamic Republic were eased as part of an interim deal with world powers, the International Energy Agency reported Wednesday.
David Cohen, the US Treasurys undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, wrote in the Wall Street Journal Wednesday that the US will ensure that Iran will not be able to export one additional barrel beyond the current low levels.

I am confident that the sanctions pressure on Iran will continue to mount. Iran will be even deeper in the hole six months from now, when the [interim] deal expires, than it is today, Cohen, who has been the Obama administrations main adviser on Iran sanctions,said.

Despite Cohens comments, the IEA reported thatIranian oil exports rose by 89,000 barrels per day to a total of 850,000 barrels per day last month, as the sale of crude to China and Taiwan rose, according toCNN.

The interim deal reached in Geneva last month reportedly allows Tehran to keep enriching uranium to 3.5 percent, limits the number of centrifuges without reducing them, and keeps the Arak heavy water reactor open. Iran in exchange receives an easing of sanctions to the tune of $6 or $7 billion, a fraction of the $80 billion in revenue which Iran lost last year, according to Cohen.

He noted that the limited relief of sanctions on Irans petrochemical industry would not yield significant results for Tehran, as most buyers seek longer term contracts, which wouldnt be guaranteed beyond the terms of the current temporary agreement.

Iran is in a deep recession its economy contracted last year by more than 5%, and it is on pace to contract again this year. Its annual inflation rate now stands at about 40%. Irans currency, the rial, has lost around 60% of its value against the dollar since 2011, Cohen wrote.

On Sunday, Irans President Hassan Rouhani said the deal had already boosted the countrys economy.

Rouhani told an open session of parliament that, after the success of the talks, investors were gravitating to businesses and the stock exchange.

Economic activities have been shifted to the stock exchange from gold, hard currency and real estate, said Rouhani in his televised speech. He gave no specific figures.

By Times Of Israel

 

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