Turkey to reduce purchase of Iranian oil

Azerbaijan, Baku, June 13 / Trend, A.Taghiyeva / Turkey intends to reduce purchase of Iranian oil, replacing it by the Saudi and Libyan oil, although the U.S. freed the country from sanctions for cooperation with Iran, the Zaman newspaper quotes Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz as saying on Wednesday. "We have agreed with Libya to purchase one million tons of oil. Also negotiations are underway with Saudi Arabia on spot purchases of oil. If the negotiations with Riyadh are successful, we will increase the volume of oil purchases from this country," he said. With regard to removal of the U.S. sanctions against Turkey due to reducing level of cooperation with Iran, Yildiz said the U.S. decision has no legal basis for Turkey and that the country pursues an independent energy policy. The day before the U.S. removed India, Malaysia, South Korea, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Taiwan from its list of sanctions in connection with reducing volume of purchase of Iranian oil by these countries. U.S. and other Western countries suspect Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the guise of peaceful nuclear energy program. Tehran denies the charges, saying its nuclear program is for anything but civilian purposes. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az