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Ankara to disregard new EU sanctions against Iran

At the same time, Ankara will continue cooperation with Tehran in the energy sphere

ANKARA, January 29 (Itar-Tass) — Turkey does not intend to heed new sanctions against Iran, proposed by the EU. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made public on Sunday this Ankara’s stand.

“Turkey disagrees with the ban on purchasing Iranian oil, introduced by the EU,” he noted at a meeting of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, now in progress in Istanbul. Dovutoglu also emphasized that his country would not participate in any sanctions against Iran, “apart from those, approved by the UN Security Council”.

At the same time, Ankara will continue cooperation with Tehran in the energy sphere.

Turkey also said in mid-January that it plans to study Washington’s proposed package of measures (for the same purpose). “However, it does not regard itself bound” by any limitations concerning contacts with Tehran, which are outside the UN sanctions.

Iran supplies Turkey with 30 percent of oil as well as considerable volumes of gas.