Turkey against severing ties with Iran despite US sanctions

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to the media in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, July 25, 2018, before traveling to South Africa to attend an emerging national economies summit (BRICS). Erdogan has argued against severing economic ties with Iran as the United States readies for sanctions, saying it goes against the independence of states to cut ties with its "neighbor and strategic partner" because the U.S. demands it. (Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to the media in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, July 25, 2018, before traveling to South Africa to attend an emerging national economies summit (BRICS). Erdogan has argued against severing economic ties with Iran as the United States readies for sanctions, saying it goes against the independence of states to cut ties with its "neighbor and strategic partner" because the U.S. demands it. (Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool)

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s president has argued against severing economic ties with Iran as the United States readies for sanctions.

Speaking in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it goes against the independence of states to cut ties with its “neighbor and strategic partner” because the U.S. demands it.

President Donald Trump announced in May that he would pull out of a 2015 agreement over Iran’s nuclear program and would re-impose sanctions. His administration threatened countries with sanctions if they don’t cut off Iranian oil imports by early November.

Turkey imported 3 million tons of crude oil from Iran in the first four months of 2018, amounting to 55 percent of crude supplies and 27 percent of its total energy imports.

Erdogan asked Wednesday: “Who will heat my country throughout the winter?”