AFP :
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister on Tuesday welcomed a United States decision to end all Iran sanction waivers by May, saying it was a necessary step to halt Tehran’s “destabilising” policy in the region.
The White House announced on Monday it was calling an end to six-month waivers that had exempted several countries – including major importer China – from unilateral US sanctions on Iranian oil exports.
Eight governments were initially given the six-month reprieve on oil sanctions that had been imposed last year by the US. The exemption will now end on May 2. Greece, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan – have already ended or heavily reduced their purchases from Iran. The other three are China, India and Turkey, with Ankara vowing to defy the US demands.
“Saudi Arabia fully supports this step taken by the US as it is necessary to force the Iranian regime to end its policy of destabilising stability
and its support and sponsorship of terrorism around the world,” Ibrahim al-Assaf said in comments carried on the Saudi state media.
He reiterated a statement issued by the kingdom’s energy minister on Monday that the world’s largest oil exporter would coordinate with other oil producers to ensure an adequate crude supply and balanced markets after Washington’s announcement.
China warned on Tuesday that the US decision to impose sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil will “intensify turmoil” in the Middle East and in the international energy market.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister on Tuesday welcomed a United States decision to end all Iran sanction waivers by May, saying it was a necessary step to halt Tehran’s “destabilising” policy in the region.
The White House announced on Monday it was calling an end to six-month waivers that had exempted several countries – including major importer China – from unilateral US sanctions on Iranian oil exports.
Eight governments were initially given the six-month reprieve on oil sanctions that had been imposed last year by the US. The exemption will now end on May 2. Greece, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan – have already ended or heavily reduced their purchases from Iran. The other three are China, India and Turkey, with Ankara vowing to defy the US demands.
“Saudi Arabia fully supports this step taken by the US as it is necessary to force the Iranian regime to end its policy of destabilising stability
and its support and sponsorship of terrorism around the world,” Ibrahim al-Assaf said in comments carried on the Saudi state media.
He reiterated a statement issued by the kingdom’s energy minister on Monday that the world’s largest oil exporter would coordinate with other oil producers to ensure an adequate crude supply and balanced markets after Washington’s announcement.
China warned on Tuesday that the US decision to impose sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil will “intensify turmoil” in the Middle East and in the international energy market.
