Iran protests sanctions by halting oil sales to Britain
IRAN yesterday ordered a halt to its oil sales to Britain and France in what appeared to be a tit for tat move against tightening EU sanctions.
The trade block was announced as a team of UN inspectors flew to Tehran to press the Islamic Republic over its disputed nuclear programme.
The European Union enraged Tehran last month when it decided to impose a boycott on its oil from 1 July. Iran, the world’s fifth-largest oil exporter, responded by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, the main Gulf oil shipping lane.
Yesterday, its oil ministry went a step further, announcing Iran has now stopped selling oil to the UK and France altogether.
“Exporting crude to British and French companies has been stopped. We will sell our oil to new customers,” said spokesman Alireza Nikzad.