SHANA � An Iranian oil official says the country has the capacity to produce 3.7 million barrels per day of crude oil.

Hoshang Falahatian, Deputy Petroleum Minister for Planning told a press conference on Wednesday that Iran's crude oil production capacity currently stands at 3.7 mbd, of which around 1.7 mbd is consumed domestically.

He also said Iran is capable of exporting around 2 million barrels of crude oil per day.

Falahatian further said the purpose of the cruel sanctions imposed on Iran is to prevent it from exporting its surplus oil output.