TEHRAN, May 17 (NNN-IRNA) – The United States would be practically unable to block shipments of fuel from Iran to Venezuela, at a time when the two countries need to cooperate, to mitigate the impacts of American sanctions on their energy sectors, Hamid Hosseini, spokesman for the Iranian Association of Exports of Crude Products, said on Saturday.
Washington is extremely angry about Iran’s delivery of fuel to a location near its borders, despite various sanctions it has imposed on Tehran’s shipping and energy sectors, Hosseini was quoted as saying.
On Wednesday, western media reported that “at least one tanker carrying fuel, loaded at an Iranian port, has set sail for Venezuela, which could help ease an acute scarcity of gasoline in the South American country.”
Accordingly, the White House announced on Thursday, the United States was considering measures it could take, in response to Iran’s shipment of fuel to crisis-stricken Venezuela.
“Gasoline shipment is not one that could be intercepted or attacked,” Hosseini said. “It would be a remote possibility for the U.S. to block the gasoline export shipment,” he added.
Hosseini described Iran’s decision to ship large consignments of gasoline to Venezuela as a right move, which is meant to help Caracas tackle its fuel shortage.
He also said, Iran should continue to export more of such shipments in future, to offset a reduction in domestic demand for the fuel, which come as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
