US sells Syrian oil: Minister

Syria's Interior Trade Minister Atef Naddaf said the US is selling the Syrian oil through Turkey.

Iran PressMiddle East: Ateft Naddaf said on Saturday to Russia Today that the US sells Syria's oil to Turkey and Turkey sells it to other countries.

"In other Syrian areas with oil, there is completely destroyed infrastructure, there are destroyed railways, all power stations are destroyed. We do not have electricity, and where is no electricity there is no local [oil] production," Naddaf said.

He noted that Syria has to import oil which is possible only through dollar and its banks, including the central bank, are banned and any foreign financial exchange with the country is forbidden.

US President Donald Trump announced last October that it was time for the Kurds to settle in the oil fields areas of Syria.

He did the move under the pretext of Kurds' financial need and said the US may send one of its oil companies there.

With the Daesh terrorist group defeated in Syria during the past two years, Kurdish forces have gained greater control over Syrian oil fields due to the low presence of Syrian forces in the north and northeast of the country.

Yet, to reinforce its military presence in the Kurdish-occupied oil fields in Southeastern Syria, the US dispatched troops to Deir el-Zoor and Hassakah in the northeast part of Syria.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had earlier said the US was stealing Syrian oil publicly, while Syria was not allowed to import oil because of the boycott.

Earlier, the US Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Louay Fallouh, had called for the US to cease stealing Syrian oil and gas revenues.

Syria ranks 32nd in terms of oil reserves after Malaysia and before Argentina.

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