Shamkhani: Iran Has Various Options to Neutralize ’Illegal’ US Sanctions

By Staff, Agencies

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said on Saturday the Islamic Republic had many options to neutralize the re-imposition of US sanctions on its oil exports, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

Shamkhani added that Tehran’s clerical rulers had no plans to hold talks with Washington.

“Apart from closing Strait of Hormuz, we have other options to stop oil flow if threatened... The US administration lacks ‘goodwill’, no need to hold talks with America,” he said.

“Iran has plans in place that will neutralize the illegal US sanctions against Iran’s oil exports,” Shamkhani stressed.

Tensions between Iran and the United States increased after US President Donald Trump pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers last May, and then re-imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

While Washington is trying to force Tehran to end its nuclear program, Iranian officials threatened to disrupt oil shipments from the Gulf countries if Washington tries to strangle Tehran’s oil exports.

Carrying one-third of the world’s seaborne oil every day, the Strait of Hormuz links Middle East crude producers to key markets in Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and beyond.