EU Discusses Dates to Impose Oil Embargo on Iran

Brussels, Jan 18. -The European Union (EU) analyzed the imposition of an oil embargo on Iran as of July, despite Tehran's call on EU member countries not to give in to U.S. pressure.Diplomatic sources claimed that the foreign ministers of the 27 will possibly agree next week on the date to enforce the sanctions.There are differences within the EU: countries more dependent on Iranian oil agreed to postpone the embargo, but others argue that it must be implemented as soon as possible.

France, one of the promoters of the measure, only purchases 3 percent of its oil from Iran, but Italy, Spain and Greece import 13, 15 and 30 percent, respectively.

Iran warned the EU about the dangers of blindly following Washington's dictates, saying that the United States wants to leave its rivals offside.

European citizens expect their leaders to make decisions independently in accordance with their national interests, said the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Ramin Mehmanparast, quoted by IRNA.

Amid the financial crisis in the euro zone, the imposition of any sanctions will exacerbate the problems and the region will go deeper into recession, said the Iranian representative at the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Seyyed Mohammad Ali Khatibi.

At present, some European nations and oil companies have banned oil purchases from Iran against their will, due to pressure from the United States and Israel, he added

The measure is undoubtedly an economic suicide for the EU countries, Khatibi said.

Iran is currently the second largest oil producer in OPEC and exports more than two million barrels a day.

The Iranian government warned about the possibility of closing the Strait of Hormuz, if the United States and its allies continue pressing with sanctions against its oil sales. (Prensa Latina)