Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA has begun loading an Iran flagged large tanker with Venezuelan heavy crude for export, a source with knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday, as ties have deepened between the two OPEC nations.

Venezuela and Iran are under sanctions imposed by the United States, hurting their oil industries and hitting crude exports by shrinking the pool of customers and shipping companies willing to send vessels to their ports.

Washington has sought to disrupt the deepening bilateral trade between the two countries. The United States seized over 1 million barrels of Iranian fuel bound for Venezuela in July.

Source » israelhayom