TEHRAN/WASHINGTON -- Asian countries are rushing ahead with purchases of Iranian oil before the U.S. demands full compliance with its sanctions against the Middle Eastern nation this week.
Four Asian countries imported a combined 1.57 million barrels of Iranian crude oil per day in March, Reuters reported Tuesday, up 36% from the previous month. Shipments to Japan, China, South Korea and India soared to a level last seen in July. In contrast, their volume for the entire first quarter dropped 31% from a year earlier.
