Israel secretly buying oil from Iran, says newsletter

Go to ADN Kronos International original
Tel Aviv, 8 April (AKI) - Iran is selling oil to its long-time foe Israel , according to a report in the Israeli industry newsletter, EnergiaNews.

But Hojjatollah Ghanimifard, director of international marketing at the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), strongly denied allegations that the country's oil exports were reaching Israel.

According to the newsletter, the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company was founded in Israel in 1968 with Iranian and Israeli capital, to manage oil purchases destined to a refinery in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon.

At the time, Iran was among the biggest suppliers of oil to Israel when both countries enjoyed close diplomatic relations.

Despite a sharp deterioration in relations after Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979 and ongoing inflammatory exchanges, Israel has continued to import Iranian oil, according to the EnergiaNews report.

more...