Israel Matzav

Turkey calls sanctions against Iran 'ineffective,' makes sure they stay that way

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called sanctions against Iran 'ineffective' as his country took action to make sure they stayed that way. Davutoglu spoke at a press conference on Friday.

Turkey has dismissed the US-led sanctions against Iran as ineffective and cautioned that any military strike against the Islamic Republic would create a disaster in the region.

During a news conference on Friday, Davutoglu added that Turkey is requesting a waiver from the new US sanctions against Iran since the embargoes affect the Turkish economy.

Turkey is almost entirely dependent on Iranian and Russian gas to meet its energy needs, he added.

The country also imports a significant amount of Iranian oil for its biggest petrochemical company, Tupras, which operates four refineries with a total crude oil processing capacity of 28.1 million tons a year.

Does anyone really believe that Erdogan's best friend won't give them that waiver?

In the meantime, Turkey is increasing its gas imports from Iran.

Currently Iran daily exports around 30 mln cbm of natural gas to Turkey, being world's second in natural gas reserves after Russia with available gas reserves estimated at over 33 trillion cubic meters.

In addition to exporting gas to Turkey, Armenia, and Pakistan, the Islamic republic is currently negotiating gas exports to Iraq.

Boujarzadeh said Turkish company BOTAS contacted Iranian National Gas Company on the gas matter, and Iranian officials are working on this issue. He underlined that Iran is ready to export more gas to Turkey, if it is technically able to receive bigger amounts.

Tehran and Ankara signed a 25-year gas deal in August 1996 according to which Iran will export an annual amount of 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Turkey.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Iran sanctions regime, Turkey, Turkish obsession with Israel

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:19 PM