LONDON, January 6. /TASS/. Imports of Iranian oil to China have declined as Teheran demands higher prices from Chinese buyers, Reuters reported citing refinery and trade sources.

According to the agency, last November Iran and China clinched deals for Brent oil supplies at a discount of $10 per barrel. However, in early December, Tehran informed Beijing that the discount would be reduced to $5-6 for supplies in December and January. Industry representatives considered such actions to be a violation of previously reached agreements.

The agency noted that the reduction in oil supplies to China, "could also represent the backfiring of an October U.S. waiver on sanctions of Venezuelan oil, which diverted shipments from the South American producer to the U.S. and India."

Reuters cited statistics from analytics firm Vortexa that China imported about 1.18 million barrels per day of Iranian oil in December, up from 1.22 million in November and 1.53 million in October.

The National Iranian Oil Company, China's Ministry of Commerce and the US Treasury Department did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

As the agency reported, oil supplies from Iran account for about 10% of all imports to China, and in October last year they reached a record level.