Iran Has Only Four Customers For It's Oil

Image credit: Office of Iran's President

Asia Is Purchasing Nearly all of Iran’s Oil -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat

Four Asian countries are now purchasing nearly all of Iran’s oil exports according a report this week from the Economist’s Intelligence Unit (EIU).

“Almost all of Iran's oil exports now go to China, South Korea, Japan and India,” the report said even as it noted a sharp decline in the amount of oil each country purchased from Iran during 2012.

Iran’s oil exports have been cut in half as a result of U.S. and EU sanctions that were enacted last year to pressure Tehran into making concessions on its nuclear program, which the West believes is aimed at acquiring a nuclear weapons capability but Iran claims is intended solely for peaceful purposes.

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My Comment: And I suspect that China and the other Asian countries are getting a very good price for that oil.

U.S. Report: China Aided Iran’s Missile, Nuclear Programs

From Beijing With Love -- Bill Gertz, Washington Free Beacon

China aided Iran’s missile, nuclear programs, report states.

China’s government provided goods and expertise for Iran’s nuclear program in the past and also gave Tehran’s Islamist regime missiles and other arms as part of the nations’ anti-United States policies, according to a congressional commission report made public Thursday.

“The authoritarian governments centered in Beijing and Tehran share an animus towards ‘hegemonism’ and a fear of internal instability,” the report prepared for the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission states.

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My Comment: The report is here. What's my take .... China is not our friend or ally .... they are our global economic competitor, and in the Asian theater they are our political/military adversary. As for Iran .... need I need to say more? Both countries are dependent on each other for trade, oil, and technology .... international sanctions mean nothing to them. As for the report itself .... bottom line .... the report is just stating the obvious.