Turkey has stopped purchasing Iranian oil as of May - Turkish official

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Turkey stopped purchasing Iranian oil as of May as U.S. waivers granted last November to eight buyers expired, and will continue to abide by Washington's demand that it halt all imports of crude oil from the Islamic Republic, a senior Turkish official said on Wednesday.

"We don't believe in sanctions, but as a strategic ally we respect the U.S. decision," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The U.S. decision to fully reimpose sanctions on Iranian oil ended a six-month reprieve for Turkey and seven other big importers as Washington stepped up attempts to isolate Iran and choke off its oil revenues.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; editing by Jonathan Oatis)