Iran to continue oil exports despite US pressure: President Rouhani

President Hassan Rouhani has downplayed Washington’s recent plan to cut Iran’s oil sales to zero, saying Tehran has its own ways of selling oil and will keep up its exports despite US pressure.

“America’s decision to block and cut Iran’s oil exports to zero is wrong and we will not let this decision become operational,” Rouhani said during a ceremony commemorating Workers' Week in Tehran on Tuesday.

“In future months, Americans will see that we will continue our oil exports," he said.

The Iranian chief executive noted that while the US is busy blocking one path for exports, Iran will still have multiple other methods at its disposal for crude oil sales, of which the Americans are unaware.

“The first goal of Americans in (imposing) cruel sanctions against Iran is to cut the country’s foreign exchange revenue,” said Rouhani, adding, “God willing, we will bring America to its knees.”

The Iranian president described resilience and resistance against Washington as the main duty of the government and nation.

The US administration said in a statement on April 22 that buyers of Iranian oil must stop their purchases by May 1 or face sanctions. The move ended six months of waivers, which allowed Iran’s eight biggest buyers -- Turkey, China, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan -- to continue importing limited volumes.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that the US administration’s hostile attempts to block Iran’s oil sales will lead nowhere, and that the country will export “as much crude as it needs and wishes” in defiance of American sanctions.