An Iranian lawmaker says the United States’ move to grant several countries exemption from illegal sanctions on Tehran proves that the world needs Iran oil.

“Every once in a while, US is forced to withdraw from its policy of sanctions and pressure against Iran because of the hardships that its people, friendly countries and allies are facing due to Iran sanctions, and this time [the US] has had to think twice about Iran bans in order to reduce these pressures and meet its need to energy and oil products,” Ahmad Bakhshayesh said Saturday.

Member of Iran Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee added that, the United States has realized that sanctions have had no effect on Iran’s plans and its forward movement.

The lawmaker stated that when countries see inefficiency of sanctions, they find the US sanctions policy against Iran as contrary to their interests and do not agree with it.


On Friday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that nine countries have been granted extended waivers of the illegal US sanctions on Iran.

Reports say, China, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Taiwan have been added to the list of countries exempt from the sanctions for another six months.

The move follows a similar action in September, in which the US exempted eleven countries from the sanctions.

The US has imposed illegal unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic over false allegation that Iran pursues non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Iran refutes the allegation, arguing that as a signatory to Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Tehran’s nuclear energy program has been diverted toward military objectives.
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News ID 183597