BAGHDAD: Iraqi authorities have rejected allegations that the country assisted Iran in evading US sanctions on oil exports, following Washington’s recent decision to sanction an Iraqi businessman linked to the practice.
In July, the US State Department imposed sanctions on six entities and identified four vessels accused of engaging in significant transactions involving Iranian petroleum products. Among those sanctioned was a network of companies operated by Iraqi businessman Salim Ahmed Said, accused of profiting from smuggling Iranian oil disguised or blended with Iraqi crude.
On Friday, Ali Nizar, director of Iraq’s state oil marketing company SOMO, firmly denied the claims.
“There are no smuggling or petroleum blending operations at Iraqi ports or in its territorial waters,” Nizar told the official INA news agency. “It is totally false to claim there are sites mixing Iraqi oil with oil from neighboring countries.”
Earlier this week, an AFP journalist joined Iraqi naval forces during an inspection of oil vessels in southern territorial waters to verify documentation.
Iran, under longstanding US oil sanctions, condemned the latest measures announced in late July, calling them “a malicious act aimed at undermining the economic development and welfare of the Iranian people.”
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