Iran Hints at Oil 'Tool' If Attacked
TEHRAN, June 19--Iran will not rule out using oil as a weapon if the US resorts to military action against the country, a senior Iranian oil official said in remarks published Tuesday.
Washington says it wants a diplomatic end to a standoff over Iran's nuclear energy program but has not ruled out force if that route fails.
Iranian officials say they do not want to use oil as a weapon but have also said they might do so if pushed.
Iran's OPEC governor, Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, said that "when the Americans say that military action in regard to the nuclear issue has not been put aside, Iran can also say that it will not put aside oil as a tool".
"We will not start using this tool (of oil) but if others use their tools that they have not put aside to put pressure on negotiations, it is natural that the two sides would discuss all their tools."
Asked what would be the impact if Iran stopped its oil exports, Kazempour Ardebili said: "Definitely the market will be faced with a new shock and oil prices will increase strongly."
He added that prices would climb above $100 a barrel.
Although Iran is OPEC's No. 2 oil producer, it imports about 40 percent of its domestic gasoline needs to meet domestic demand for fuel.
Washington has described this as "leverage" in the nuclear standoff with Tehran.
However, Kazempour Ardebili said Iran would never face problems obtaining gasoline even if some threatened to hinder supplies.
"If anybody makes a threat about not giving gasoline he should know he will not be successful because the main producers of gasoline are members of OPEC and we will never have difficulties in regards to gasoline," he said.
"We believe energy supplies should be de-politicized as much as possible," he added.
Iran has said it will introduce gasoline rationing for motorists as part of efforts to reduce surging consumption.
So far only government cars have been rationed and rationing for other motorists has been delayed from May 22.
No official announcement has been made about when the full rationing system will formally start.
Washington says it wants a diplomatic end to a standoff over Iran's nuclear energy program but has not ruled out force if that route fails.
Iranian officials say they do not want to use oil as a weapon but have also said they might do so if pushed.
Iran's OPEC governor, Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, said that "when the Americans say that military action in regard to the nuclear issue has not been put aside, Iran can also say that it will not put aside oil as a tool".
"We will not start using this tool (of oil) but if others use their tools that they have not put aside to put pressure on negotiations, it is natural that the two sides would discuss all their tools."
Asked what would be the impact if Iran stopped its oil exports, Kazempour Ardebili said: "Definitely the market will be faced with a new shock and oil prices will increase strongly."
He added that prices would climb above $100 a barrel.
Although Iran is OPEC's No. 2 oil producer, it imports about 40 percent of its domestic gasoline needs to meet domestic demand for fuel.
Washington has described this as "leverage" in the nuclear standoff with Tehran.
However, Kazempour Ardebili said Iran would never face problems obtaining gasoline even if some threatened to hinder supplies.
"If anybody makes a threat about not giving gasoline he should know he will not be successful because the main producers of gasoline are members of OPEC and we will never have difficulties in regards to gasoline," he said.
"We believe energy supplies should be de-politicized as much as possible," he added.
Iran has said it will introduce gasoline rationing for motorists as part of efforts to reduce surging consumption.
So far only government cars have been rationed and rationing for other motorists has been delayed from May 22.
No official announcement has been made about when the full rationing system will formally start.
