Iran is the fifth-largest oil-producing nation but has found it more difficult to export oil at full capacity amid increasing isolation from Western countries following Washington's pull-out from the 2015 nuclear deal and imposition of the “toughest-ever” sanctions.

Axar.az reports citing Reuters that Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri claims that Tehran is continuing to sell oil, despite US sanctions on its oil exports.

"Despite America's pressure ... and its imposed sanctions on our oil exports, we still continue to sell our oil by using other means ... when even friendly countries have stopped purchasing our crude fearing America's penalties", Jahangiri said.

The statement comes after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in November that Washington would terminate its sanctions waiver beginning on 15 December and called on Tehran to immediately cease its uranium enrichment activities.