Iran’s oil exports to Tajikistan begin; the United States warns about the possibility of secondary sanctions

🔸Tajikistan has announced that it has started receiving oil and petroleum products from Iran; a move that could provide a new source of energy for the country, which has long relied on Russia for the bulk of its fuel.

🔸The Tajik Ministry of Energy and Water Resources told Asia-Plus news agency that the shipment of cargoes began in late August, after negotiations between the two countries to expand cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

🔸The ministry did not announce the volume of the shipments, the commercial terms of these exchanges, or the method of transferring Iran’s oil and petroleum products to Tajikistan.

🔸At the same time, the move raises the question of whether trading with Iran could put Tajikistan at risk of U.S. secondary sanctions—especially in a context in which Washington has increased pressure on the Islamic Republic’s oil revenues.

🔸Gigi O’Kaneel, a spokesperson for the U.S. Treasury Department, said the ministry does not comment on specific allegations of sanctions violations, but warned that activities in Iran’s oil and petrochemical sectors face an increasing risk of sanctions.

🔸In an email reply to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, she said: “Whoever decides to continue operating in these sectors also assumes responsibility for this risk.”

🔸You can read the full report on Radio Farda’s website.