European refiners are gearing up to resume crude oil purchases from Iran as hopes of a nuclear deal remain alive despite reports of serious differences, Bloomberg reported.

Italy’s Saras has told the news and market data provider that it would buy Iranian crude, with Spain’s Cepsa saying it would “definitely” consider resuming purchases.

Greece’s Hellenic Petroleum also welcomed the return of Iranian oil to the market as “positive for refiners”.

Spain, Italy and Greece imported 456,000 barrels a day, or 78% of total Iranian oil shipments to Europe, before halting them in 2012 due to sanctions.

Bloomberg said the return of Iranian barrels would be positive for refiners that replaced them with more expensive Russian Urals.

“If Iran comes back, they have the possibility of getting medium sour crude at cheaper price than Urals,” it quoted senior analyst at KBC Process Technology Ltd Ehsan Ul-Haq as saying.

Spain’s Repsol and Italy’s Eni were major trader partners of Iran before the sanctions were intensified. They have recently held talks with Iranian energy officials in anticipation of a breakthrough in the nuclear talks.

Royal-Dutch Shell and Eni sent their executives to Tehran in June and May in search of new businesses.

Shell as well as Greek and other European companies owe Iran several billion dollars in outstanding debt for the oil which they have lifted.

The Anglo-Dutch company has said it had discussed paying back $2.3 billion to Iran in oil dues once the sanctions are lifted.

Glencore has also sent its head of oil Alex Beard to Tehran for talks with the country’s energy officials, the Anglo-Swiss commodity trader said earlier this month.

Global energy consultancy firm SVB Energy said Thursday Iran could add up to 800,000 barrels of oil per day in the next six months after the sanctions are lifted.

Iranian officials have said the country would be capable of raising output by 500,000 bpd within two months and one million bdp after six months.

Sanctions have diminished Iran’s daily crude exports to around 1 million barrels per day, with almost all the shipments going to Asia.