US pushes back on Iranian officials as spat over oil exports continues

as informed in (CNN) The US and Iran continue to trade barbs over Iranian oil exports, with the US military announcing it will continue to keep the Persian Gulf open to international shipping. Urban's comment came after the leading Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander on Wednesday had offered his nation's moderate President a rare endorsement after Hassan Rouhani called US attempts to block Iranian oil exports "pointless." Iranian officials bristled, interpreting the declaration as a US intent to stop Iranian shipping. Iranian officials in the past have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route for Persian Gulf nations to the Arabian Sea. The comment prompted Qasem Soleimani, who heads Iran's elite Quds Force and rarely makes public statements, to say he would "kiss" Rouhani's hand after the President hinted Tuesday at threats to disrupt regional oil exports.

Libya suspends oil exports from two key ports

National Oil Corporation has declared force majeure on crude oil loadings at al-Hariga and Zweitina oil terminalsAll oil exports from Libya's eastern al-Hariga and Zweitina seaports have been suspended after operations were halted. The National Oil Corporation said on Monday a crisis following military strongman Khalifa Haftar's recapture of ports in Libya's oil crescent last month has slashed production by 850,000 bpd. The "National Oil Corporation has declared force majeure on crude oil loadings at al-Hariga and Zweitina oil terminals", it said in a statement. Exports from two other ports, Ras Lanuf and al-Sidra, seized from a rival militia by Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), were already suspended on June 14. But Libya's unity government last week urged the United Nations to block any "illegal" oil exports and the Tripoli-based NOC said it was the "only recognised Libyan entity" responsible for oil production and export.

Libya's NOC to resume oil exports from eastern terminals

as informed in Tripoli-based oil company says production will resume within hours and commended Haftar for putting the country first. Libya's Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced the re-opening of four oil terminals after renegade General Khalifa Haftar agreed to hand over control of the ports. "All the oil installations controlled by Libyan National Army are being handed over to the National Oil Company [NOC] dependent on the provisional eastern government that is headed by Faraj al-Hassi." On Wednesday the NOC commended Haftar's Libyan National Army in a statement for "putting the national interest first" by handing back the ports. NOC chairman Mustafa Sanallah additionally called for a "proper national debate on the fair distribution of oil revenues".

collected by :Frank Ithan