Third phase of Persian Gulf Star Refinery goes on stream
February 18, 2019 - President Hassan Rouhani on Monday inaugurated the third and final phase of the sprawling Persian Gulf Star Refinery built in the Persian Gulf port city of Bandar Abbas.
Construction of the refinery began in 2006 and it now has the capacity of 400,000 barrels per day, which amounts to about 20 percent of Iran’s 2.1 million barrels of daily refining capacity. The refinery will make the country self-sufficient in gasoline.
Rouhani praised the inauguration, saying in a televised speech that it comes despite America’s “imposing the harshest sanctions” on Iran.
He described US sanctions imposed on Iran as an economic war being waged on the country and stressed that “economic war is more difficult than military war.”
“We face challenges at a time of economic war and sanctions, since the US and its mercenaries in the region are attempting to increase daily pressure on the Iranian nation,” he said.
Last year the Trump administration pulled the US out of Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers and snapped back sanctions on Iran, targeting its vital oil sector.
“We have inaugurated huge national projects in this situation,” Rouhani said at the inauguration, adding that this comes despite efforts by the US, Israel and their allies to increase pressures on Iran.
He said Iran has reached self-sufficiency in all areas, stressing that the nation will overcome US sanctions.
“The Iranian nation is on the path of self-sufficiency and nobody can stop this greatness by imposing certain conditions,” he said.
Rouhani further dismissed US claims that the sanctions do not target the Iranian nation, saying the measures are affecting people’s lives.
On Sunday Rouhani said, “If we want to stand against the superpowers and not lose our independence, we must remain united. We must all stay together in order to preserve the freedom that has been achieved, thanks to the blood of the Islamic Revolution’s martyrs.”
Rouhani said he was confident Iran would overcome challenges. “It is true that we have problems, but these problems will fail to bring our people to their knees.”