Iranian President Ahmadinejad
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Reuters

Iran has launched its first home-grown oil tanker, as a way to sidestep western sanctions on its oil exports, according to state-controlled Fars news agency.

The tanker was apparently ordered by Iran’s ally, Venezuela.

The production of the Aframax ship is the first export shipbuilding activity of Iran, and we must continue by attracting more customers, said Mehdi Etesam, managing director of Iran Maritime Industrial Company SADRA.

Reuters reported that Aframax vessels have the capacity to hold up to 700,000 barrels of oil.