Turkey warning: Ankara vows 'we WILL NOT OBEY' order to STOP buying Iran oil
TURKEY has snubbed US orders not to buy Iranian oil, with the country’s Foreign Minister warning Donald Trump the nation “will not obey” his sanction as tensions soar.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu has further strained tensions between the US and Turkey by blasting Mr Trump’s threat of punishment should Ankara continue to purchase oil from Iran.
He said: “We buy oil from Iran and we purchase it in proper conditions.
“What is the other option?
“While we are explaining why we will not obey these sanctions, we have also expressed that we do not find these US sanctions appropriate.”
Mr Trump’s sanctions come as an attempt to isolate Iran and drain the Assad regime of cash from international allies.
He hopes the order will prevent Iran buying in nuclear weapons.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in May: “Any time sanctions are put in place, countries have to give up economic activity.
“So the Americans have given up economic activity now for an awfully long time, and I’ll concede there are American companies who would love to do business with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
He added: “But everyone is going to have to participate in this. Every country is going to have to understand that we cannot continue to create wealth for Qasem Soleimani.”
Despite strong words from Mr Cavosoglu, Turkey’s largest oil importer, Tupras, has cut back on deals with Iran without affecting sales.
A source told Hurriyet Daily News: “During the sanctions scheme of 2011 by the US, Tupras was able to purchase three to four cargoes of Iranian crude a month.
“I believe they would want to be able to stick to that this time as well instead of completely stopping.”
The source added: “This crude needs to be bought by someone as otherwise it will send the price shooting up, which nobody wants.”
Turkey’s defiance follows the final stages of an arms deal with Russia that would trigger further sanctions from Mr Trump.
Newly re-elected President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to purchase a collection of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft defences despite warnings from NATO and Mr Trump.