Italian imports of oil from Iran are up dramatically for 2010 despite pressure from economic sanctions, the Iranian oil ministry said.The Iranian Oil Ministry's Petroenergy Information Network said reports from Italian industrial group Unione Petrolifera showed Italian imports of Iranian oil were up 84.6 percent during the first seven months of 2010.
Iranian crude, the company added, makes up 15 percent of the oil imported by Italy.
The U.N. Security Council in June placed new sanctions on Iran as punishment for its controversial nuclear program. The European Union and United States followed with their own set of unilateral sanctions that target Iran's energy sector. The U.S. State Department published a list of energy companies recently that it said pulled out of Iran because of the pressure from sanctions.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, however, said sanctions might not be the best strategy for dealing with Iran.
Ahmad Qalebani, the managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company, said last week that crude oil demand was up despite the sanctions.
"Sanctions have had no impact on Iran's oil exports," he said in a statement. "Sanctions did not reduce Iran's oil exports but increased demand for the country's oil."
Iranian crude, the company added, makes up 15 percent of the oil imported by Italy.
The U.N. Security Council in June placed new sanctions on Iran as punishment for its controversial nuclear program. The European Union and United States followed with their own set of unilateral sanctions that target Iran's energy sector. The U.S. State Department published a list of energy companies recently that it said pulled out of Iran because of the pressure from sanctions.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, however, said sanctions might not be the best strategy for dealing with Iran.
Ahmad Qalebani, the managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company, said last week that crude oil demand was up despite the sanctions.
"Sanctions have had no impact on Iran's oil exports," he said in a statement. "Sanctions did not reduce Iran's oil exports but increased demand for the country's oil."
