Iranian oil minister: Sanctions turn Iran into an oil equipment exporter

TEHRAN,May 8(MNA) - Global sanctions against Iran not only have not any hindering effect on the country’s oil industry, but also have turned the Islamic republic into an exporter of equipment and goods, Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi stated. “Despite all threats of the enemies, there is no concern regarding development of the oil industry relying on expertise and knowledge of Iranian scientists,” he said. Many countries around the world are permanent customers of Iranian oil and we are not worried about selling oil to them, he added. Qasemi said earlier that the country is approaching “total self-sufficiency” in the production of equipment required in the country's oil industry. “Much of the equipment needed for oil industry is being produced by domestic manufacturers,” he added, Press TV reported. Qasemi said that the global economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic will not be effective to hinder the country’s oil industry progress. Iranian manufacturers will supply oil industry with $10 billion worth of domestically-made goods and equipment in the current calendar year, which began on March 20, the head of the association of oil industry equipment manufacturers said. “The West has imposed sanctions on the country’s oil industry, thinking that they can restrict Iran’s economic activities,” Sirous Talari added.