US will sanction 'illicit purchases' of Iranian crude oil, says special envoy

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

US will sanction 'illicit purchases' of Iranian crude oil, says special envoy

Reuters Published June 28, 2019

US special envoy for Iran Brian Hook says there are oil waivers in place for any country. — Photo courtesy US Department of State website

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The United States will sanction any country that imports Iranian oil and there are no exemptions in place, the US special envoy for Iran said on Friday.

US President Donald Trump targeted Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials with sanctions on Monday, taking an unprecedented step to increase pressure on Iran after Tehran's downing of an unmanned American drone last week.

“We will sanction any imports of Iranian crude oil... There are right now no oil waivers in place,” Brian Hook said when asked about the sale of Iranian crude to Asia, adding that the US would take a look at reports of Iranian crude going to China.

“We will sanction any illicit purchases of Iranian crude oil,” Hook told reporters in London.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jun 28, 2019 04:41pm

It's next to impossible for the U.S. to monitor each and every transaction of Iranian oil and gas between suppliers and buyers in today's world of 7.5 billion people?

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Abbas shah

Jun 28, 2019 04:43pm

There r many ways to sell oil ,every state wants cheap oil comparison to costly low quality. Arabian light.

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Asim

Jun 28, 2019 04:53pm

USA can try...

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Jamil Ahsan

Jun 28, 2019 04:55pm

Because might is right!

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Zak

Jun 28, 2019 05:04pm

There goes India's short lived defiance. Back in line.

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hamid shafiq

Jun 28, 2019 05:32pm

Every country has right to do the business.USA should be in limit because these restriction on Iran may be back fire for USA

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Shnakar

Jun 28, 2019 05:33pm

Great move! Keep severe pressure on this brutal regime until it changes its own behavior in middle east and start functioning like normal country.

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Sea Peck

Jun 28, 2019 05:38pm

Pakistan & China will benefit most from it.

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Smuggler

Jun 28, 2019 05:56pm

@Sea Peck, Yeah, by smuggling oil through underworld. India does not have a route to smuggle oil from Iran. USA is in a headache in region, it's policies eithe will benefit China & Pakistan or they will benefit India. None of these coutries are in US clout at the moment.

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Smuggler

Jun 28, 2019 06:04pm

“We will sanction any illicit purchases of Iranian crude oil,” You only say things you can't really do. Like the US-Mexico wall 2/3rd of which is yet to be built despite election promise of Trump.

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jacky

Jun 28, 2019 06:05pm

@Zak, think about ur own country which cannot even buy gas from iran .

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Saif Zulfuqar

Jun 28, 2019 06:13pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, There are no 7.5 billiins Oil Tankers. It is very easy to pinpoint both the sellers and the buyers through money transactions and the owners of oil tankers.

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ZAK

Jun 28, 2019 06:14pm

@jacky, "think about ur own country which cannot even buy gas from iran ." Indians don't know Pakistan. Pakistan has its own natural gas reserves found in Balochistan & Sindh. That IPI pipeline is actually Bharat's dream to let Iranian gas pass thorough pipeline via Pakistan. Pakistan dont need Iran's gas. Never needed it.

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Saz

Jun 28, 2019 06:16pm

@Shnakar, what made you to say this. I guess you have know knowledge of reality.

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Saif Zulfuqar

Jun 28, 2019 06:16pm

@jacky, Your country can bring oil through Chahbhar port of Iran, Can they?

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Mango man

Jun 28, 2019 06:28pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, Maybe but if they monitor and stop more than 95% they will have achieved their goals. Plus any country caught with their hands in the cookie jar gives the US leverage which can be immediately used or saved as "favor" for later use. Thats how diplomacy works.

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Ghani K

Jun 28, 2019 06:33pm

It is going to be a selective sanction against buying oil from Iran. Trump will give leeway to China & India. He will sanction 3rd world countries. Pakistan 's position is different, it is not the US only, we have to deal with Saudi Royals who wouldn't appreciate if we decide to buy oil from Iran.

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James

Jun 28, 2019 06:54pm

@Shnakar, - when people go blind their thinking also changes as they even lose the basic respect for human life.

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Mujahid Bajwa

Jun 28, 2019 07:39pm

@Zak, India had already acceded to US demand on cutting down on Iranian oil & India is still pushing the US for a waiver. No defiance there!

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Raj

Jun 28, 2019 07:54pm

The problem for the whole world is that, most of the trades, investments across the globe are all done in USD and that gives the USA a leverage and stick to beat the countries with and make them dance. This problem no one is able to address it presntly.

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Rashid

Jun 28, 2019 08:02pm

Bullying and blackmail. Have you nothing better to say? Is that why you are called "special envoy ".

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Jjacky

Jun 28, 2019 08:16pm

@ZAK, that i read in ur news about huge reserves of oil and gas found, it was a game changer.

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Bipin

Jun 28, 2019 08:28pm

I think countries should work together and make all US sanctions ineffective......China and India all need crude oil .......enough is enough.....

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Pervez

Jun 28, 2019 08:40pm

@ZAK, stop lying, we have no natural gas or oil reserves

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Changez Khan

Jun 28, 2019 08:49pm

India is their big customer so put the sanctions on India.

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Myself

Jun 28, 2019 08:50pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, 7.5 billion people arent buying oil individually, only a few hundred oil companies are so its actually very easy to monitor.

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Manoj

Jun 28, 2019 08:58pm

Just like Pakistan buying Indian products with a UAE/Singapore invoice , Iranian oil will become Qatari oil. Good time for middlemen. Bad news for consumers.

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ZikZak

Jun 28, 2019 09:11pm

@Zak, "There goes India's short lived defiance. Back in line." - India's oils purchase from Iran was not a sign of defiance. It was our trade expansion policy with Iran. We will continue our trade with Iran where it is mutually beneficial. And as for oil, there are other oil sources - as we have the money to pay for the oil. It's not a big deal for us Can Pakistan say that they have money to buy oil?

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Amir Indian

Jun 28, 2019 09:43pm

@Sea Peck, how ?

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Jun 28, 2019 10:42pm

@ZAK, PM IK had also announced about the large deposits of oil. How’s the oil drilling going?

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Dreader

Jun 28, 2019 11:41pm

EU is working with Russia and China to come up with a solution. NYT reports "The Europeans said in a statement that the barter system, known as Instex, was being finalized and that Iran should stick to the deal."

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Rizwan Hamid USA

Jun 29, 2019 12:16am

Pakistan will now rue the fact that it did not complete it's side of the pipe line to Iran. Could have had cheap oil and it would have improved our relations with Iran. Giving in to US pressure is a losing game. America will use any country and toss it out like used toilet paper when it no longer serves American interests.

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Sachin

Jun 29, 2019 12:33am

@Zak, You just keep watching with envy how India moves ahead in all fields.

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Aqeel

Jun 29, 2019 12:51am

US will sanction India ???

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Straight talk

Jun 29, 2019 01:08am

Yet the US is happy to sell arms to Saudi know they use them on civilians in Yemen.

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Zak

Jun 29, 2019 01:37am

@Mujahid Bajwa, Read again. No US waivers for anyone. Chabar, $4billion sunk cost. Now China and Pakistan will link it to CPEC and Gwadar and make use of it for our benefit.

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Zeeshandxb

Jun 29, 2019 02:03am

That tone.....is not good. They should calm it down. They can fly drone in their own country if they are afraid someone will shoot it down

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Tamilselvan

Jun 29, 2019 02:37am

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, Every cargo ship especially liquid cargo ships are monitored via satellite. They can smuggle out if taken via dhows in drums which will be minuscule

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Farhan Khan

Jun 29, 2019 02:44am

US should do more against Zionist that are hijacking American

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Sami

Jun 29, 2019 02:54am

India be ready for it. Being one of biggest importer of Iranian oil.

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Sodhi

Jun 29, 2019 05:05am

US is no more the shining star atop a hill. It's glory days were over anyway, and this Trump guy is speeding up the irrelevance of the US in quick time. World is starting to ignore US and learning to live without it or despite it. Another Trump term and US will be left with not too many allies, no matter how great Trump ends up making it. South Asia should rejoice.

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fairplay

Jun 29, 2019 06:37am

@hamid shafiq, American 'friends' won't break from American dictat.

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fairplay

Jun 29, 2019 06:40am

@Shnakar, such harsh words for the Iranian people, from the 'friend' India. The real hindutva speaking now. I hope Iranians read your comment.

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fairplay

Jun 29, 2019 06:41am

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, you are wrong. You can't ship oil in tin cans!

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fairplay

Jun 29, 2019 06:42am

@Smuggler, India is willingly under the feet of the US.

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fairplay

Jun 29, 2019 06:44am

@Saif Zulfuqar, Chabahar disappeared from the scene for India, maybe the Chinese can help finish this project! Iran has to face the harsh reality.

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fairplay

Jun 29, 2019 06:46am

@Saz, easy to connect Indian thoughts, Iran is a Muslim country. The hatred filled naturally from Hindus.

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fairplay

Jun 29, 2019 06:49am

@ZikZak, we got billions in credit lines from several countries.

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Manu USA

Jun 29, 2019 06:50am

I don't think US doing right by sequeeze the common Iranian. Trump says don't want regime change, then?

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cricket lover

Jun 29, 2019 06:57am

USA and SA are on the wrong path. My question is why sanctions on Iran? Iran has been abiding by all norms set to stop enriching uranium. Was not that not enough? EU is satisfied with Iran's commitment and so the whole world. US Jewish lobby against Iran is playing role to high light Iran to deflect the attention of the world from the nukes of Israel.

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Dawn

Jun 29, 2019 07:58am

Thus terrorizing police state needs to stop working on behalf of The Settlement.

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Saif Zulfiqar

Jun 29, 2019 12:57pm

@fairplay, I fully agree with you. Chabahar port project died by the pressure from China to Iran.

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Naresh

Jun 29, 2019 04:14pm

@RC, drilling going good, instead of Oil people in Pakistan sweating out to pay additional taxes

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