Iran oil minister warns of new sale cuts to Europe

Iran's oil minister on Thursday raised the prospect of more cutoffs in oil sales to the European Union if the bloc failed to show some flexibility toward Iran ahead of a second round of nuclear talks next month.       

Oil Minister Rostam Ghasemi said that while Iran has cut sales to Britain and France, it continues selling crude to "other countries" in the world. The remarks were likely to stir up confusion since they appeared to contradict earlier government statements that Tehran had also cut exports to Greece and Spain.       

Iran first imposed the oil embargoes on Britain and France in February and in April, it said oil sales were cut to Greece and Spain as well. The measures were meant as pre-emptive retaliation ahead of an EU oil embargo that is due to go into effect in July.       

The EU imposed the ban because of Iran's refusal to halt its controversial nuclear program. The bloc imports some 18 percent of total 2.2 million barrels of Iran's daily oil production.       

Ghasemi said that if sanctions imposed by the 27-nation bloc were not lifted by the next round of nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers, then "we will surely cut oil to Europe."       

AP