TEHRAN: South Africa is looking forward to restoring normal economic and trade relations with Iran once international and UN sanctions against Tehran are lifted, International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo said on Wednesday.In July Iran and six world powers – China, the United States, France, Britain, Russia and Germany – reached a deal stipulating to lift a 13-year sanction and embargo on Tehran in exchange for limiting its nuclear programme.
The international community has since welcomed the agreement which was the fruit of 21 months of negotiation.
The approach of South Africa is that we welcome the progress made because it will afford us an opportunity for us to resume our bilateral engagements, including buying oil from Iran, Mfeketo said.
Iran is the largest supplier of crude oil.
However, South Africa was obliged to halt its imports of Iranian oil as of June 2012 as a result of the sanctions.
Asked when South Africa will resume oil imports from Iran, the deputy minister said the two sides are currently in negotiations over the oil trade.
Toyota SA to invest over R4 billion in car assembly and parts
Toyota SA Motors (TSAM) has announced a R4.28bn investment in local vehicle assembly and parts supply. Speaking at the company’s...