The US wants Turkey to reduce imports of Iranian oil by finding new suppliers, spokeswoman of the US State Department Victoria Nuland said, Trend reports.
The US relieved Japan and 10 EU states of financial sanctions for their reduction of Iranian oil imports. Turkey, South Korea, China and India are yet to make their decisions.
Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said at an energy conference in Ankara on Wednesday that Turkey may still be freed from sanctions the US plan to pass.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to discuss the issue at a meeting with US President Barack Obama at a summit on nuclear security in South Korea in late March.
Turkey continues efforts to avoid sanctions.
Turkey imports about 200,000 barrels of oil daily, about 7% of total Iranian oil exports. Yildiz said that Turkey will continue oil purchases from Iran until the contracts expire. Turkey has signed a new contract with Libya, but failed to reach an agreement on oil purchases with Saudi Arabia.
