Turkish authorities told a US Treasury Department delegation that Ankara will not implement new sanctions imposed by Washington on Iran, Xinhua reported.
“A US delegation visited Ankara. We told them that we will not join these sanctions,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was quoted saying by Daily Cumhuriyet.
“We buy oil from Iran and we purchase it in proper conditions. What is the other choice?” Turkish officials told the delegation led by Marshall Billingslea, the US assistant secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing, last week.
The minister also said Ankara not only told the US officials that Turkey will not join the sanctions on Iran, but also warned Washington that their move was a wrongdoing.
US President Donald Trump announced in May the US’ withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or the Iran nuclear deal, and that sanctions on Iran would be reimposed.