TEHRAN - Mohsen Pakaeen, the former Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan, has said that the Foreign Ministry can provide the grounds for increasing Iran’s oil sale in the international markets.

“It is true that the Foreign Ministry is not directly responsible for economic development, however, it can provide the grounds for economic interactions with the other countries. So, the ambassadors play an important role in this respect,” he told Mehr news agency in an interview published on Monday.

He added diplomats can introduce Iran’s capacities to other countries and boost political determination to expand relations.

U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, on May 8 and ordered restoration of sanctions against Iran.

The first stage of sanctions were restored on Monday midnight. The second stage of sanctions will be snapped back in November. 

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.

China has rejected request by the U.S. to cut Oil imports from Iran. Bloomberg reported on August 3 that the U.S. has been unable to persuade China to cut Iranian oil imports.

Teams of U.S. officials have been visiting capitals around the world to try to choke off sales of Iranian oil by early November. 
 
NA/PA