Iran’s Ministry of Oil says it generated $18 billion in oil sales during its conflict with the United States figures contrast with remarks made in late June by Iran’s Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who said and the subsequent ceasefire, despite earlier claims by senior officials that exports had been halted.
In a statement published on its official website on Saturday, the ministry said it sold $11.5 billion worth of oil during the war and a further $6.5 billion during the ceasefire, which collapsed earlier this month.
According to the ministry, the sales accounted for more than 60 per cent of the oil revenue projected in the country’s annual budget despite the ongoing crisis.
The figures contrast with remarks made in late June by Iran’s Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who said the country had been unable to export any oil during the US blockade of its ports.
The conflict began on 28 February following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks against US allies in the region.
Although a ceasefire reached in April largely brought the fighting to a halt, hostilities resumed earlier this month as Iran and the United States continued to clash over control of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
