Turkish Iran oil imports edge higher in March

* Receives four tankers with Iranian oil in March * Volumes 15 pct higher than in previous months * Still far below imports before sanctions LONDON, April 2 (Reuters) - Turkey imported 114,000 barrels per day of Iranian oil in March, 15 percent more than the average of the past six months but still far below the levels Ankara used to buy from Tehran before European Union's sanctions came into force last year. Shipping data obtained by Reuters showed Turkey's terminal of Aliaga received two tankers with Iranian crude last month, carrying 145,000 tonnes and 53,000 tonnes. The terminal at Tutunciftlik imported oil in two tankers, carrying 140,000 and 145,000 tonnes. That brings the total imported by Turkey last month to 483,000 tonnes or 114,000 bpd, 15 percent higher than imports from September to February when the average was around 100,000 bpd. Last year, Ankara effectively halved imports of Iranian oil after the European Union oil embargo against Iran came into full force on July 1, which also targeted the marine insurance sector, cutting off the usual avenues for tanker insurance. Turkey was twice granted a waiver on Iranian oil by the United States for 180 days after Ankara made initial cuts. It remains one of the largest customers for Iranian oil together with Asian buyers such as China, India, South Korea and Japan. A provision of U.S. sanctions, made law last summer and implemented from Feb. 6, also tightened control on sales of precious metals to Iran. (Reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov; editing by James Jukwey)