US calls for halt to Iran oil imports in months

WASHINGTON — The US State Department said on Tuesday that it has been pushing countries to stop importing oil from Iran by November.

The United States has been pushing allies to stop oil imports from Iran by Nov 4, a senior US State Department official said.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said that currently the US was “not granting waivers” to any country which was in business with Iran.

When asked how related countries responded, the official said that there was “some kind of effect achieved”.

Following Trump’s decision to quit the Iran nuclear pact on May 8, the US vowed to re-impose sanctions lifted under the accord against Teheran and inflict punishments like secondary sanctions on nations that have business links with Iran.

Firms that were doing business in Iran were given up to 180 days to wind up investments. Otherwise, they risk huge fines.

Washington’s withdrawal from the landmark Iran nuclear deal was widely criticized across the world. And some of its major European allies have been working to prevent the 2015 deal from falling apart.

A senior official from Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that European countries will soon offer a package to protect Iran’s interests in accordance with the 2015 deal, IRNA news agency reported.

Earlier this month, foreign ministers and economic ministers from France, Germany and the United Kingdom urged Washington to exempt European companies engaged in trade with Teheran after Washington threatened to impose tough sanctions on the Iran and all countries doing business with Teheran.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Wednesday that China and Iran are friendly to each other, and there remain normal exchanges and cooperation in line with their obligations under international law.

Such cooperation, including in trade and energy, is beyond reproach, he said.

Oil prices rebounded strongly on Tuesday following the message from the US State Department.

Xinhua, Reuters and Wang Qingyun in Beijing contributed to this story.