Turkey Says Won't Honor U.S. Demand To Stop Buying Iran's Oil

Turkey has said that it does not plan to honor a U.S. call for countries to stop importing oil from Iran, calling the demand "not binding" on Ankara.

"We will follow if there are decisions, sanctions by the United Nations on this issue. Other than this, we will only follow our own interests," Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said.

Washington on June 26 warned its allies that they must end Iranian oil imports by November 4 or they will face penalties under sanctions the United States is reimposing on Tehran.

Turkey, which has recently faced the threat of U.S. sanctions over Ankara's plan to purchase S-400 missile defense systems from Russia, offered sympathy and support for neighboring Iran.

"We will pay attention so our friend and brother Iran will not face unfair treatment," Zeybekci said, according to state news agency Anadolu.

Turkey's dismissal of the U.S. threat came as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, urged India -- one of the top buyers of Iranian oil -- to honor the U.S. sanctions.