Iran Says It Can Live Without Oil Money

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Iran says it may stop exporting oil if international sanctions against it are intensified, adding that it has a contingency plan for running the country without oil revenues.

According to Reuters, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Ghassemi told reporters in Dubai on Tuesday October 23: “If sanctions intensify, we will stop exporting oil.”

“We have prepared a plan to run the country without any oil revenues,” he added. “So far to date, we haven’t had any serious problems, but if the sanctions were to be renewed we would go for ‘Plan B’.”

Iran
Iran

The U.S. and the EU have imposed widespread sanctions on Iran’s oil and financial sectors with the aim of resolving their nuclear disputes with Iran. Reports indicate that the sanctions have more than halved Iran’s oil revenues.

Iran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful but has also shown willingness to negotiate with the world powers.

Ghassemi told reporters: “If you continue to add to the sanctions we (will) cut our oil exports to the world… We are hopeful that this doesn’t happen, because citizens will suffer. We don’t want to see European and U.S. citizens suffer.” He intimated that a complete halt to Iranian oil exports would drive up the price of oil.

The Oil Minister did not give any details on how the country would operate with oil revenues. Reuters report indicates that oil exports constitute half of Iranian government revenues and 80 percent of Iran’s exports.

Ghassemi stressed: “Iran has been facing U.S. sanctions for 30 years while successfully managing its oil sector.”

Despite the minister’s statements, the Iranian economy appears to be facing grave problems with a plummeting national currency and continued inflation.

Radio Zamaneh

Since 2006 Radio Zamaneh has successfully facilitated Persian writers, Islamic scholars, prominent Iranians and personalities at the heart of Iranian culture to provide their views and thoughts.

One thought on “Iran Says It Can Live Without Oil Money

  • October 24, 2012 at 12:23 pm
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    I have no doubt that Iran could run without oil revenues but at what level of existence? Or perhaps he meant without oil revenues from the west but still selling to Asia. That would be a different matter. I can see China helping Iran out substantially, also India and Japan.

    Seeing as Europe only consumes 20% of Iran oil exports, this might be quite feasible. It woild probably be at a similar level of existence as the UK during WW2.

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