China offers Iran $3bn oilfield deal despite U.S. sanctions: Wall Street Journal 

State-run Chinese energy giant Sinopec has offered Iran a $3-billion deal on further development of an Iranian oilfield the two countries are already working on, the Wall Street Journal has reported. 

By Payman Yazdani

EU failure to implement SPV could worsen current situation: Italian expert

TEHRAN - Dr. Pastori Gianluca says U.S. secondary sanctions are jeopardizing the JCPOA and the EU failure to offer a meaningful implementation of the SPV could only worsen this state of things.

No date set for establishing SPV: Qassemi

TEHRAN – The Europeans so far have not announced a date for establishing the special purpose vehicle (SPV), Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Tuesday, Mehr reported.

‘S. Korea expected to restart Iran’s oil imports in late Jan. or early Feb.’

TEHRAN- South Korea is expected to restart imports of Iranian crude oil in late January or early February, Reuters reported quoting the head of South Korea’s SK Innovation, which owns the country’s biggest oil refiner SK Energy, as saying on Wednesday.

Iranian MP calls Pompeo’s sanctions remarks ‘disgraceful’

TEHRAN - Alaeddin Boroujerdi, an Iranian lawmaker, has said that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s claim that sanctions are aimed at giving the Iranian people a chance to have better lives is “invalid” and “disgraceful”.

Turkey resumes oil import from Iran

TEHRAN- Turkey has resumed imports of Iranian crude oil under the U.S. sanctions waiver, according to the trading and shipping sources.

Addiction treatment in Iran hampered by U.S. sanctions

TEHRAN – A recent statement by the director of Prevention and Treatment Development at the State Welfare Organization of Iran shows that despite Washington claims that sanctions are targeted at the Islamic Republic, it is ordinary Iranians in need that are to face the fallout.

'More potential buyers for Iran’s oil despite U.S. sanctions'

TEHRAN – Iranian Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs and Trading Amir-Hossein Zamaninia said despite the U.S. sanctions more oil buyers have approached the country for negotiations, Shana reported.

Sanctions are a ‘cowardly approach’ toward Iran: Cambridge professor

TEHRAN – A professor of political science at the University of Cambridge has strongly criticized the U.S. sanctions against Iran, calling the sanctions a “cowardly approach” toward the Islamic Republic.

India likely to continue purchasing oil from Iran in 2019

TEHRAN- Senior officials in the Indian government said India is likely to continue purchasing oil from Iran in 2019, the Hindu Business Line reported.

Iran to sell 3m barrels of oil to private sector at IRENEX

TEHRAN - Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh announced on Wednesday that the heads of the three branches accorded to sales of three million barrels of crude oil at Iran Energy Exchange (IRENEX) via a 100-percent-rial mechanism, IRNA reported.

‘Iraq seeking exemption from U.S. sanctions to continue Iran’s gas imports’

TEHRAN- Iraq will send a delegation to the United States seeking an exemption from sanctions against Iran that would allow it to keep importing Iranian gas, Reuters reported quoting Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi as saying on Tuesday.

By Omid Shokri Kalehsar

The effects of U.S. sanctions on Iran’s natural gas projects

Iran holds the second largest natural gas reserves in the world. Despite this advantage, the country controls less than one percent of the world’s natural gas market. Nevertheless, Iran is the third largest gas producer and, over the past few years, has focused on increasing its share of the global gas market. By the end of 2017, according to the National Iranian Gas Company, Iran was producing 800 million cubic meters per day.

Budget bill sees $3.5b in protective packages

TEHRAN- The budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year (starts on March 21, 2019) is estimated supplying 100 trillion rials-150 trillion rials (about $2.38 billion-$3.57 billion) of protective packages to the qualified Iranians, IRNA quoted the Head of Budget and Planning Organization Mohammad Baqer Nobakht as saying on Tuesday.

German court rules in favor of Iranian bank

TEHRAN – A court in Germany has ordered Deutsche Telekom, a partly state-owned telecom provider, to reactivate phone and internet service for the Hamburg branch of Bank Melli Iran, Press TV reported on Friday, citing Der Spiegel.

France, Germany may host payment channel aimed at bypassing sanctions on Iran

France and Germany will likely host the Special Vehicle Purpose (SPV), a special payment channel created by Europe as part of its efforts to keep trade flowing with Iran in defiance of U.S. sanctions, senior diplomats told the Wall Street Journal.

Salehi warns of ominous fallout if Iran nuclear deal breaks down

Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, on Monday warned the European Union of ominous consequences if it did not follow through with action to keep the economic benefits of the 2015 nuclear agreement alive.

U.S. approach against Iran’s maritime sector violates IMO’s spirit

TEHRAN- Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) in a statement condemned the U.S.’s sanctions against Iran’s maritime transportation and activities and said such approach is in contravention with the laws and regulations of International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Zarif says Iran will thrive despite U.S. sanctions

Iran’s foreign minister has said his country will not only survive newly reimposed U.S. sanctions but it will thrive.

Japan, South Korea plan to resume Iran oil imports from January: sources

Refiners in Japan and South Korea are looking to resume Iranian oil imports from January after receiving waivers from U.S. sanctions on Tehran, sources familiar with the matter said.

Gabriel: thousands of German SMEs can trade with Iran

Former German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel says small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can continue trade with Iran despite U.S. sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

By Martin Love

The world prays for the wisdom and cool of Iranians

NORTH CAROLINA - An Iranian friend, a photographer known internationally for fine documentary work, asked plaintively last week when the U.S. might stop trying to sink Iran and Iranians. I had no ready answer, but the question was painful to hear because I could also hear concern, grief and empathy for others.

Turkey: U.S. sanctions against Iran ‘unfair’

TEHRAN – The U.S. sanctions against Iran are unfair, Turkish Vice-President Fuat Oktay said, Turkish media reported on Monday.

Rouhani says leaders of 4 major countries sought to broker talks between him and Trump at UN summit

We will ‘break sanctions proudly’: Rouhani

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani announced on Monday that leaders of four major countries sought to broker talks between him and U.S. President Donald Trump during the UN General Assembly session in New York in September.

Ambassador: China to continue co-op with Iran

TEHRAN – Chinese Ambassador to Tehran Pang Sen on Sunday stressed China’s firm decision to confront new U.S. sanctions against Iran, saying his country will continue cooperation with the Islamic Republic despite U.S. pressure, IRNA reported.

As new sanctions coming

Trump’s Iran zero oil plan hits snag

TEHRAN – The OPEC and non-OPEC producers’ disability to make up the shortfall in oil supplies resulting from the loss of Iranian production under the U.S. sanctions, which has led to an increase in oil prices, is a sign of Trump administration’s failure in Iran’s zero oil exports plan.

Iran’s oil exports still high despite U.S. sanctions: report

TEHRAN – Iran has sold about 1.7 million to 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and condensate in September according to estimates by investment banks, tanker-tracking firms and the International Energy Agency, which is an indication that U.S. is still a long way from achieving its stated goal of zeroing out Iranian oil sales.

‘Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan hold common stance on region’

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan have common stance on regional issues and are determined to cooperate.

By Javad Heirannia & Maryam Khormaei

Beijing supports full membership of Iran in Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Ambassador 

More work needed to strengthen China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership

TEHRAN - China Ambassador to Tehran Pang Sen hailed the deeply-rooted relations between the two nations. But while expressing support for Iran's full membership in SCO, he underlined the need for more work to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership.