Ibrahim al-Ibrahim , Deputy Foreign Minister , said on Thursday that South Africa has suspended almost all of its oil imports from Iran to respond to the request of United States for reducing the imports of Iranian crude oil .
“As far as I know suspending the imports of Iranian crude oil will not hurt our country economic .” He announced in a news conference . South Africa have been included in the list of 12 countries may be subject to U.S. sanctions if not reduced their purchases from Iran sharply .
Ibrahim said he is not agree with United States policy to impose sanctions on countries that buy Iranian oil . But he added that his country is obliged to respond because of the economic damage that will befall South Africa if not already done so .