EghtesadOnline: Iran is banking on customers in Europe to shore up crude oil exports as the country faces the prospect of losing its foothold in Asian markets that take in the bulk of its shipments.

EghtesadOnline: Unenthusiastic about trading oil in the US dollar and South Korea's won, Iran wants more euro payments for the crude oil it sells to South Korea, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said, signaling that Tehran supports a growing interest in moving away from dollar as the international currency in oil market.

EghtesadOnline: Imports of Iranian crude by major buyers in Asia rose in September for a third straight month to their highest since March, boosted by a surge in purchases in China and South Korea.

EghtesadOnline: Iran has increasingly expanded its footprint in the European oil market since last year's lifting of sanctions, with ports and terminals in Europe taking in nearly 35% of Iranian crude exports.

EghtesadOnline: Iran's crude oil exports in July are set to fall 7% from this month's three-month high, mainly due to a decline in exports to Europe, a person with knowledge of the Middle Eastern country's tanker loading schedule said.

EghtesadOnline: South Korean crude imports from Iran rose by 285 percent in July comparing to similar period last year.