“We plan to get to the point where we would not need to export crude oil anymore…..it would be of great benefit to our country.”-Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran

14 March 2013/02 Jumada l-Ula 1434/24 Esfand 1391/3 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Iranian leaders want to end their oil exports, as a way to guarantee self sufficiency, and counter economic sanctions by the West.

It’s estimated that if Iran builds more refineries to make fuel and petrochemicals for export, it can make three to four times more money than from exporting raw crude oil.  (this is exactly what the U.S. oil industry is doing, and the real reason why U.S. domestic fuel prices go up when U.S. oil prices have been relatively constant)

Domestically, it’s estimated that by producing more petrochemicals for Iranian industries as much as five times more money could be made: “The country’s oil industry has witnessed big developments, among them launching gasoline making unit of Abadan oil refinery. By launching the project the country no longer needs to import gasoline.”-Rostam Qassemi, Iranian Oil Minister