“Given the situation, it was decided, following an evaluation, to reduce by 20 percent crude purchases from Iran,” the company statement said.
The announcement was a surprise. The Turkish government, which owns Tupras, had disparaged sanctions and insisted it would not reduce its economic links to Iran.
But Turkish political relations with the Islamic Republic have hit multiple bumps in the road in recent weeks—over Syria and over Turkey’s agreement to host an American radar designed to track Iranian missile launches. It is possible the announced cutback was a political decision and that purchases could be resumed if relations improve.
