Iran Stops Oil Sales To UK, France

Iran stopped selling oil to the French and British oil companies, said Sunday the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum, Alireza Nikzad. “Crude exports bound for British and French companies have been stopped. We sell our oil to new customers, ” Nikzad was quoted as saying.

Last week, Iran had threatened to halt its exports to six European countries – including France. Brent crude price then increased from 118 dollars to 120 dollars per barrel. Tehran said the move is in retaliation for the embargo imposed by the European Union (EU) on Iranian oil imports.

Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has reiterated Tehran’s determination to continue with its nuclear program, insisting on the nation’s willingness to even deal with “the worst-case scenario.” “Since we believe that we are right, we do not have the slightest doubt in the pursuit of our nuclear program. Therefore, we plan to move ahead with vigor and confidence and we do not take much heed of [the West’s] propaganda warfare. Even in the worse-case scenario, we remain prepared,” said Salehi Sunday.