Despite problems (and American sanctions) Iran oil sales on track. (VIDEO)

Oil ban by the West made life harder for Iran this year, but just for two months. An EU insurance ban on shipping for tankers carrying Iranian crude also made Iranian exports take an initial dip.

But Iran's oil minister says tables turned in less than two months and in favor of Iran when sovereign coverage picked up the tab in China, South Korea, Japan and India. Measures taken by the oil ministry also helped re-balance Iran's budget and shift oil barrels using Iranian insurance cover.

Speaking to Press TV on the sidelines of a national conference on how best to tackle Western oil embargo, Iran's oil minister downplayed the insurance angle, saying that Asian refiners and spot traders can cover against environmental pollution claims using Iranian insurance firms.