China Rejects U.S. Request to Cut Iran Oil Imports

Harboursandport.com: Lagos--- The U.S. has been unable to persuade China to cut Iranian oil imports, according to two officials familiar with the negotiations, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump’s efforts to isolate the Islamic Republic after his withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear accord.

Oil and gas facility

Beijing has, however, agreed not to ramp up purchases of Iranian crude, according to the officials, who asked not to be identified because discussions with China and other countries continue. That would ease concerns that China would work to undermine U.S. efforts to isolate the Islamic Republic by purchasing excess oil.

Teams of U.S. officials have been visiting capitals around the world to try to choke off sales of Iranian oil by early November, when U.S. sanctions are due to snap back into effect. While the Trump administration has said it wants to cut Iranian oil exports to zero by Nov. 4, most analysts viewed that target as unlikely.

Francis Fannon, the assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Energy Resources, was recently in China to discuss sanctions, according to a State Department spokesperson.

China’s ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce didn’t immediately reply Friday to faxed requests for comment.

The latest on the U.S.’s dispute with Iran is hinged on Iranians Protest Prices in Key Cities Ahead of Sanctions Return,  Pompeo  Struggle to Squeeze North Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia increase OPEC oil production

The Trump administration argued that the nuclear deal, which lifted some economic sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program, was fatally flawed because it didn’t address the country’s destabilizing behavior or limit its development of ballistic missiles, among other things. The other partners in the agreement, including the U.K., France, Germany and Russia, criticized the U.S. move to quit the deal.

Unfazed, the administration has warned that even allies would face sanctions if they didn’t show “significant” progress in reducing Iranian oil purchases by Nov. 4, ruling out broad exemptions or waivers.