Gholamreza Kateb, a senior member of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) and the rapporteur for the Majlis Committee for Planning and Budget Affairs, on 7 January acknowledged that Iranian oil exports have decreased far more steeply than suggested by public announcements by the Ministry of Oil. The ministry subsequently rejects this assertion and still claims that Iranian exports and production have been only marginally affected by US/EU sanctions.
Quoting from a report that was sent to the Committee by Iran’s Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi, Mr Kateb told Iran’s ISNA news agency that exports are expected to drop by 40% in 4Q of the current Iranian year (corresponding to 21 December-20 March) compared to the same period last year. He also noted that over the same period the report predicted a decrease of 45% in revenues from the sale of crude oil, oil products and condensate. (CONTINUED - 296 WORDS)
