LONDON, Western sanctions against Iran are not having any impact on the Islamic Republic's biggest crude oil tanker operator, NITC, which is pressing ahead with expansion plans, NITC Chairman Mohammad Souri said on Wednesday.Western countries suspect Iran's nuclear work is aimed at bomb-making but Tehran says it is for peaceful purposes.

New wide-ranging U.S. and European Union sanctions this month have aimed to squeeze Iran's petroleum imports and increase its international isolation. The measures have excluded Iranian crude oil sales.Souri told Reuters NITC, which was founded in 1955 and fully privatised in 2000, was not involved "in any way" in the import of petroleum products into Iran."It is therefore unaffected by sanctions and remains a legitimate business partner for companies in the EU and elsewhere," he said.Courtesy:REUTERS