The Iranian supertanker Adrian Darya 1, released by Gibraltar after pledge not to deliver oil to Syria, August 18, 2019
Syria’s Assad regime, propped up by Iran during a nine-year conflict, has surpassed China as Tehran’s oil customer.
Amid economic crisis and shortages of electricity and gas, the regime has imported an average of 84,000 barrels per day since May 2019. Data from Tankertrackers.com indicates record volumes for April, with at least six tankers carrying about 6.8 million barrels (230,000 bpd) toward the Mediterranean port of Baniyas.
Before last year, Iran’s oil provision was usually 30,000 to 60,000 bpd in one to two shipments per month.
With US sanctions choking off Iran’s oil market, Chinese imports have fallen to a historic low of 81,000 bpd. Iran’s total exports to China fell 53% in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the same period last year, to $1.8 billion.
Iran’s oil exports have fallen between 80% and 95% because of Trump Administration sanctions imposed in November 2018. The International Monetary Fund estimates that Iran may be able to export 340,000 bpd this year, compared to 2.5 million bpd in April 2018.
The shortfall has crippled the Iranian Government’s budget, despite an attempt to expand non-oil revenues.
See also Iran Daily, April: Vice President — We Can Run Country With No Oil Income
Iran has propped up the Assad regime with billions of dollars in lines of credits, including for oil. Amid Tehran’s economic problems, the credit has been withdrawn.
However, with more than 100 million barrels of unsold oil in storage and with global oil prices at a historic low, Tehran is increasing shipments to Damascus. It is unknown what price, if any, the Islamic Republic is setting.
US funding for the OPCW’s laboratories shows why the organisation cannot be impartial: https://www.state.gov/u-s-funding-support-for-opcw-laboratory/
Your Syrian warlord launched numerous chemical attacks and you supported his every attack. Fact. Now deal with it. No amount of propaganda can wish it away.
I am still waiting to read the chemical analysis annex in the OPCW’s latest report.
I mean I know it’s tough or impossible for a fervent regime supporter, such as yourself, to admit that your puppet Syrian warlord loves to gas his own people. Especially after your regime spent decades crying about chemical weapon usage against them. Personally I think it’s hilarious and is incredibly useful in demonstrating their unending hypocrisy how they really don’t give a rat’s ass about Internal law when it suits their purpose(ie. installing a puppet warlord). It’s increasingly difficult to take them seriously especially after they shot their own plane down and openly lied about it. LOL
Rastgoo,
Almost all governments support the OPCW with funding, as they do with other international organizations.
S.
You are right. The U.K is another big donor: https://www.opcw.org/media-centre/news/2019/04/united-kingdom-contributes-ps11m-support-opcw-activities-including-future
The former head of the OPCW, Jose Mauricio Bustani, was reportedly threatened by the U.S before they removed him from office: https://truepublica.org.uk/united-kingdom/america-threatened-opcw-director-general-we-know-where-your-kids-are/
Awesome representation of state of affair in mullah system
https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-arrests-editor-journalist-over-cartoon-khamenei/30581874.html
The cartoon is:
1. Vulgar to the point of obscene.
2. Insults Iran’s Leader.
It violates Article 27 of the press law ( https://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/ir/ir013en.pdf). “Should a publication insult the Leader or Council of Leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran or senior religious authorities (top Islamic jurisprudents, the license of the publication shall be revoked and its managing director and the writer of the insulting article shall be referred to competent courts for punishment.”
What is Persian for freedom of speech? Guess that concept is too radical, eh Reza? Heaven forbid somebody say something about Iran’s dictator. Quite a healthy system you have there. Let’s see how it works out for you.
Actually, Reza. The leader endorsed the mullah’s “islamic medicine” just a week before this anus oil treatment. You should be proud instead.
Has it worked? Here is the instruction:
https://gdb.rferl.org/99522BDA-2790-4E32-9D8C-A290755B4DC8_w650_r0_s.jpg