WASHINGTON - US diplomats are in talks with Ankara over the flow of gold from Turkey in exchange for Iranian natural gas, the State Department said on Tuesday.
"We continue to consult closely with Turkey and all other countries on the scope of US sanctions against Iran, and will pursue any evidence of potentially sanctionable transactions," a State Department spokesman said.
Turkey relies on natural gas from Iran and has been paying for it using Turkish lira, and Tehran has used the lira to buy Turkish gold. Couriers carry the gold to Dubai and it is then shipped to Iran.
On Monday, Turkey's energy minister said purchases of Iran's natural gas is not covered by US sanctions - which means Tehran will continue to supply and get paid by its biggest gas customer.
