Page 20 - MEOG Week 46

MEOG NEWS IN BRIEF MEOG

POLICY Tehran exported up to 700,000 barrels per day exports had risen sharply in September,
(bpd) of oil since March, but was later quoted although the figures fall into a wide range of
US troops protect oil fields by an Iranian news agency casting doubt on between 400,000 and 1.5 million bpd.
the figure which had been kept secret as the
US President-elect Joe Biden, who was
in Northeast Syria country fights US sanctions. vice president in the US administration which
Iran’s oil exports have shrunk from more
negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran,
US Forces in northeastern Syria continue than 2.5 million bpd since 2018, when the has said he would return to the nuclear pact if
to secure oil fields not only from the self- United States withdrew from Tehran’s 2015 Iran resumes compliance.
declared Islamic State of Iraq and Syria but nuclear deal with six world powers and The prospect of a rise in supplies from
also from the Syrian government and Russian reimposed sanctions that have hammered the Iran, an OPEC member, have worried
forces. country’s economy. some members of the Organization of the
Currently, US Soldiers with M2 Bradley “The average oil sales so far this (Iranian) Petroleum Exporting Countries and their
Infantry Fighting Vehicles continue to year have been 600,000 to 700,000 barrels per allies, a group known as OPEC+ that has cut
perform important tasks of defense duties at day,” Hamid Pourmohammadi, deputy head output to prop up oil prices.
oil fields. of the budget and planning organisation, Iran has ruled out talks with the United
The soldiers are in Syria to support the told semi-official Fars news agency, without States unless Washington returns to the
Combined Joint Task Force-Operation providing further details. nuclear deal and lifts sanctions.
Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) mission, Pourmohammadi later in the day withdrew “We will not miss any opportunity, ...
according to a recent service announcement. his comments and said the figure referred to whenever there is an opportunity, to have the
“CJTF remains committed to working by, Iran’s plan for exports of oil next year. The sanctions lifted,” President Hassan Rouhani
with, and through our partners to ensure the Iranian year begins on March 20. said in a televised speech on Wednesday.
enduring defeat of Daesh,” the announcement Fars published the denial in a separate REUTERS
says. story, but did not change Pourmohammadi’s
At the same time, Pentagon said that the US quotes in the first interview. Iran’s next annual budget
was not profiting from Syrian oil, despite “No one is allowed in the Iranian
sending troops to protect oilfields in the government to give any figure on the crude eyes oil prices at $40 a
country’s east. oil sales during sanctions,” an industry source
Moreover, revenue from oil is going to the told Reuters. barrel
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a key US ally The source said the figure, however, could
in the military campaign against ISIS. include both crude and petroleum product Iran’s budget for next year could be based on
According to US officials, the goal is to sales. “It seems the Iranian official is talking an oil price of $40 a barrel, the government’s
allow the SDF to have “the ability to work based on the dollar amount received by Iran spokesman said in remarks published on an
on building up their strength on the de-ISIS and he might be mixing crude and petroleum official website on Tuesday, although he added
campaign”. products.” that the budget assumptions were not final yet.
Iran’s oil minister Bijan Zanganeh and “The revenue sources for the next year’s
DEFENCE BLOG other officials have said that Tehran would not budget are not finalised yet by the government
disclose its oil exports data as it fights to skirt ... Our primary forecast for now is oil at $40 (a
US sanctions which targets its vital energy barrel),” Ali Rabiei said.
OIL industry. Iran’s calendar and fiscal year starts on
Iranian authorities have said Washington’s March 21.
Iran says it exports 700,000 “maximum pressure” policy aimed at halting than 2.5 million barrels per day since 2018,
Iran’s oil exports have shrunk from more
Iran’s oil exports have failed as Tehran has
bpd of oil, later denies been working to get around the measures. when the United States withdrew from
Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six world
Citing three assessments based on tanker
An Iranian official said on Wednesday that tracking, Reuters reported that Iranian oil powers and reimposed sanctions that have

P20 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 46 18•November•2020