DUBAI: Iran is in talks to sell crude oil to Egypt, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi was quoted as saying by the Iranian Students’ News Agency Monday.

Iran has been looking for new buyers for its oil as western sanctions over its disputed nuclear program squeeze sales to longtime customers.

Iranian officials have said on several occasions over the last few months they are in talks to sell oil to new customers, but rarely name them and there is little evidence of significant volumes of oil being shipped to new customers.

A spokesman for Egypt’s Oil Ministry had no immediate comment on Qasemi’s reported remarks but referred questions about Iran’s policy back to Tehran.

Diplomatic relations between Tehran and Cairo broke down after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution over Egypt’s support for the overthrown Shah and its peace agreement with Israel.