US actively considering waivers on Iran oil sanctions

WASHINGTON: The United States is actively considering sanctions waivers for countries that are reducing their imports of Iranian oil, a US government official said on Friday.

The Trump administration withdrew from a deal over Tehran`s nuclear programme in May and is unilaterally reimposing sanctions on Iran`s crude oil consumers on Nov. 4. The sanctions aim to force Tehran to stop its involvement in conflicts in Syria and Iraq and halt its ballistic missile programme.

Iran says it has abided by the 2015 nuclear deal, which was struck with five other world powers, besides the United States. 

The administration is "in the midst of an internal process" of considering exceptions called SRE waivers, or significant reduction exemptions, said a government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Its goal is to get oil imports by Iran`s customers to zero, ideally by November 4 but the administration is "prepared to work with countries that are reducing their imports on a case-by-case basis," the official said.

The official`s comments followed news that India, Iran`s No. 2 oil customer after China, will buy 9 million barrels of Iranian oil in November. It was an indication that India will continue purchasing crude from Iran, despite the Trump administration`s push to get countries to stop their purchases.