* Loading data shows Turkish imports of Iran oil slump in
June
* Iran’s support for Assad in Syria strains ties with Turkey
* Iran losing billions as new Western sanctions curb exports
By Dmitry Zhdannikov
LONDON, July 6 (Reuters) – Turkey has steeply slashed
Iranian oil imports in June, dealing another blow to Tehran’s
stretched finances as its crude exports towards even the most
loyal customers plummet due to Western sanctions.
Iran, which relies on oil for more than half its budget
revenues, is already seeing crude exports fall sharply from
regular levels of last year as the West raises pressure to force
Tehran to abandon its nuclear programme.
Loading data showed this week that Turkey, which is among
Iran’s top five customers, imported only three 150,000-tonne
cargoes with Iranian crude in June through its two key ports of
Aliaga and Tutunciftlik, averaging 110,000 barrels per day.
That represents a big decline from an average of 180,000 bpd
imported last year and a huge slump from 250,000-280,000 bpd
Turkey imported during some months in early 2012.
Trade between Turkey and Iran has risen sharply over the
past decade, and Turkey was regarded as a possible weak link in
the international sanctions against Iran due to a long history
of close relations between the neighbours.
Continued…
