"We sold petrol to Venezuela at the current price, and part of the money is in the country," he said.

In an interview with IRIB, Bijan Zangeneh said about the Ministry of Petroleum's plan to continue exporting petrol to Venezuela, considering imposition of sanctions against the captains of Iranian tankers: "This was not unexpected; first, they promised them money which they did not accept. They then threatened and boycotted them, which they knew.”

Noting that Iran is doing business with Venezuela, he added: "In order to continue exports, we need to see how negotiations between the two countries will proceed."

In May 2020 Iran sent five oil tankers, Forest, Fortune, Petunia, Faxon and Clavel all under flag of Iran to Venezuela. The tankers were loaded at a gasoline refinery near Bandar Abbas.