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Iran 'halts oil exports to six EU states' Iran oil ministry denies ending exports to EU states
(about 2 hours later)
Iran has stopped crude oil exports to six European states in retaliation for the sanctions imposed by the European Union last month, state media report. Iran's oil ministry has denied state media reports saying it had stopped oil exports to six European countries in retaliation for the EU's oil embargo.
English-language Press TV said those affected were the Netherlands, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain and Italy. English-language Press TV had said the Netherlands, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain and Italy would be affected.
Iran's oil minister had previously said it would cut exports to "some" states. But an oil ministry spokesman told the Reuters news agency that any such decision would be announced by Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
The EU agreed to stop importing Iranian oil from 1 July to put pressure on Tehran to stop enriching uranium, which can be used to make a nuclear warhead. EU member states have agreed to stop importing Iranian crude from 1 July.
The embargo was phased so that member states that were relatively dependent on Iranian crude, notably Greece, had enough time to find alternative sources of supply. The move is intended to pressure Tehran to stop enriching uranium, which can be used for civilian nuclear purposes but also to build warheads.
The EU currently buys about 20% of Iran's oil exports, which account for a majority of government revenue. However, Iran's Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said that a cut in exports to the region would not hurt Tehran. Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, but the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency says it has information suggesting Iran has carried out tests "relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device".
Brent crude oil prices were up $1 a barrel to $118.35 shortly after Wednesday's announcement by Iran. The EU oil embargo, which was agreed last month, was phased so member states that were relatively dependent on Iranian crude - notably Greece, Spain and Italy - had enough time to find alternative sources.
The EU's embargo was agreed two months after the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency said it had information suggesting Iran had carried out tests "relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device". The bloc currently buys about 20% of Iran's oil exports, which account for a majority of government revenue. However, Iran's Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said that a cut in exports to Europe would not hurt Tehran.
Tehran insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. Brent crude oil prices were up $1 a barrel after Press TV's announcement on Wednesday, but the European Commission said such a move would make little difference as member states were already switching suppliers.
"Oil is something you can get on the international markets, and Saudi Arabia said they would increase their production," a spokeswoman for EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger, told the AFP news agency.
The reports about the halt of Iranian oil exports to the six EU states came shortly before President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was expected to unveil a new generation of domestically made uranium enrichment centrifuges.The reports about the halt of Iranian oil exports to the six EU states came shortly before President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was expected to unveil a new generation of domestically made uranium enrichment centrifuges.
State TV also said Mr Ahmadinejad would announce Iran had produced its own 20% uranium-enriched fuel rods for a research reactor in Tehran.State TV also said Mr Ahmadinejad would announce Iran had produced its own 20% uranium-enriched fuel rods for a research reactor in Tehran.