أعمال
إيران تهدد بإغلاق مضيق هرمز
April 24, 2019 - Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps has threatened to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz following a U.S. demand that buyers of Iranian oil stop purchases or face sanctions.
Alongside India, South Korea and five others, China is Iran’s largest crude oil customer, with imports in March estimated at 613,000 barrels per day (b/d) -- roughly six per cent of China’s total oil imports -- according to Bloomberg tanker tracking.
On Tuesday, China’s Foreign Ministry said it was firmly opposed to the move, adding its energy cooperation with Tehran is lawful and reasonable.
India will likely take a similar position to China, having imported 258,000 b/d in March.
“Indian refineries are fully prepared to meet the national demand for petrol, diesel and other petroleum products,” India oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.
On Monday, Trump said Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East-dominated OPEC producer group could “more than makeup” for any drop in Iranian oil supplies to global markets.
- The Latest on Trump’s Move to End Iran Waivers (Bloomberg)
- Factbox: Strait of Hormuz - the worlds most important oil artery (Reuters)
- Iran has produced and exported less crude oil since sanctions announcement (EIA)
- Here’s why China and India will remain defiant amid threat of U.S. sanctions for Iranian oil imports (CNBC)