TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament's energy commission Hossein Amiri Khamkani has described the claims of some countries to fill Iran's crude void in the global market as a "political bluff", asserting that Saudi Arabia is not capable of replacing Iranian supplies.
The MP emphasized that "Iran's oil exports would never go down to zero; however, the reduced oil supplies would affect the market.”
The lawmaker further underscored the necessity of creating economic stability and turning sanctions into opportunities in the country, adding, "With the official start of the sanctions, not only there will not be a problem, but it would only show the failure of the United States to bring to zero Iran’s oil exports, and success of Iran and the Islamic community".
He said U.S. issuing sanctions waivers for eight buyers of Iranian oil indicates the fact that Washington has failed to reach its goals in this regard.
"Over the past 40 years, we have seen a variety of sanctions and have become more or less accustomed to the troubles they have created for us,” he concluded.
Iranian officials have downplayed the effects of the U.S. sanctions, saying that the country has found new customers for its crude oil.