A few days later, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasem denounced the story and said Iran had sold no crude to Shell, in keeping with his announcement of last month that Iran was punishing Britain and France by refusing to sell British and French companies any oil.
Shell spokesman Ross Whittam has now confirmed that Shell is still buying Iranian oil under pre-existing contracts and will continue to do for a while longer. He said Chief Executive Peter Voser has made a decision that Shell will cease to buy Iranian oil within several weeks, well ahead of the July 1 deadline when all purchases of Iranian oil are banned by the EU.
Whittam seemed unaware that Qasem had announced last month that all sales to Shell and other British and French companies had been stopped by Iran.