China’s crude imports from Iran fell 11.6 per cent in April from record shipments a year ago but were still the highest in 11 months, official customs data showed.

China’s imports last month from Iran were 2.91 million tonnes, or 707,400 barrels per day (bpd), up 10.8 per cent from March on a daily basis and the highest since last May.

Last month, Iran and six world powers signed a framework nuclear agreement that could see sanctions on Tehran eventually lifted if a more permanent pact is finalised by a June deadline. Many analysts, though, say there will be no significant increase in Iran’s output or exports before mid-2016.

Earlier this week, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Tehran would not accept “unreasonable demands” by the world powers.

China’s April imports from Iran were well above from the 2014 average of roughly 550,000 bpd, which was about the same as seen before the United States and the European Union toughened sanctions over Iran’s disputed nuclear programme in early 2012.