Turkey says it will not be able to diversify oil imports quickly after the United States ended sanction waivers on purchases from Iran, and Ankara continues to urge Washington to reconsider its decision.
“It does not seem possible for us to diversify the sources of the oil we import in a short time,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters on Thursday.
Turkey has reduced its heavy reliance on Iranian crude in the past year – traditionally some 1 million barrels a day — but Ankara said its refineries were not suited to handling oil from some other countries.
“We have to renew the technology of our refineries when we buy oil from third countries. That would mean the refineries remaining shut for some time. This, of course, has a cost,” he added.
The statement comes a day after the United States told international buyers to stop oil purchases or face sanctions, ending six months of waivers for eight countries to continue buying Iranian oil to ease disruptions on their own economies.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy on April 26 said Turkey was working to persuade Washington to allow oil refiner Tupras to continue crude imports from Iran.
“Tupras is following the subject closely. The characteristics of their refineries are suitable for Iranian oil. We are trying to convince the U.S.,” Aksoy said.
Turkey and China have expressed a need to continue substantial purchases of Iranian oil. Others, such as India, Japan, and South Korea, have indicated they will comply with US pressure.
China last month said it opposed “long-armed jurisdictions implemented by the United States” and would continue “rational and legal” cooperation with Iran.
Source: Agencies
