Brazil Court Orders Petrobras to Refuel Iran Vessels
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Brazil’s top court ordered state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA to refuel two Iranian grain vessels stranded on the Brazilian coast due to US sanctions holding up sales of fuel needed for their return trips.
Chief Justice Dias Toffoli overturned a lower court ruling that allowed Petrobras, as the oil major is known, to refrain from fueling the vessels, Reuters reported.
Petrobras had denied service over US sanctions.
The Petrobras press office has not been officially notified about the court’s decision, it said. The company said it will evaluate its options once it learns the details of the decision.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo told reporters in Brasilia that the legal process must be followed in the case.
In his decision, Toffoli said the bulk carriers Bavand and Termeh are under contract to Brazilian company Eleva Química and so are entitled to receive the fuel and proceed on their return trips.
Eleva Química did not return a request for comment.
Toffoli said the Petrobras refusal to refuel the ships would cause economic losses for Eleva and Brazil.
Iran is a major buyer of Brazilian commodities and the top destination for its corn exports this year. The country also buys Brazilian soybeans, sugar, meat and other products.
The ships Bavand and Termeh are among five Iranian vessels testing a new trade route, taking urea to Brazil and returning to Iran with corn.
