“We are in good conditions in terms of gasoline production capacity and all our refinery development projects would soon come on-stream, and then we will become a gasoline exporter in the region,” Qasemi said on Tuesday.
Iran’s premium gasoline output is expected to increase by 12 million liters per day with the launch of the first phase of the Persian Gulf Star Refinery within months.
The country attained self-sufficiency in fuel production after its international suppliers stopped selling gasoline to Tehran under US pressure.
The minister also played down the impact of tough sanctions imposed against Iran’s energy sector, saying the restrictions have failed to stop Iran’s oil industry from running.
“Foreign countries imagined that Iran would not survive several months under such conditions, but the endeavors of oil industry staff showed that the problems would be set aside while oil industry projects are in good conditions,” Qasemi noted.
The minister also stated that the Islamic Republic has not allowed foreigners to take advantage of oil as an instrument against the Iranian nation.
Earlier this month, the United States imposed new sanctions on Iran’s energy sector in an attempt to force the Islamic Republic to halt its nuclear energy program.
The sanctions, which took effect on February 6, prevent Iran from gaining access to earnings garnered from its crude exports.
The sanctions require importing countries to keep their payments at home and only release them in return for purchase of goods from them by Iran, to effectively lock up Iranian oil revenues overseas.
The US has spearheaded several rounds of Western sanctions against Iran in recent years, based on the unfounded accusation that Iran is pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program.
press tv/281
