Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi announced that despite the international and unilateral sanctions against the country's oil sector, Iran's annual crude exports have reached $60bln.

"This year the status of (our) oil exports has improved and long strides have been taken for the flourishing of the country's economy," Qassemi said on Tuesday, April 10 evening.

"Despite the fact that all countries have mobilized against Iran, the country's oil exports have reached $60bln now," he added.

Qassemi downplayed the effects of sanctions on the country's progress and flourishing, and said “enemies should know that Iran is independent from other countries and sanctions have led to Iran's further progress and development,” Fars News Agency reported.

After the EU's decision to embargo Iranian oil supplies, Tehran stopped exports first to France and Britain and very recently to Greece and Spain.