Brussels, 24/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - Iran responded on Monday 23 January to the EU embargo put on its oil that same day. “European Union sanctions on Iranian oil is psychological warfare. Imposing economic sanctions is illogical and unfair but will not stop our nation from obtaining its rights”, said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast. “The European countries … should think about their own interests. Any country that deprives itself from Iran's energy market, will soon see that it has been replaced by others”, he added. Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that the more sanctions were imposed on Tehran “the more obstacles there will be to solve the issue” of its nuclear programme.
Iranian MPs said that the ban could not be put into effect and described it as “propaganda”. Former Intelligence Minister Ali Falahian called for retaliatory measures to be taken against the EU, proposing that oil exports be halted before 1st July, when the transition period set by the EU for honouring existing contracts ends. The deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament foreign affairs committee, Mohammed Kossari, brandished the threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz. “If there is any disruption to the sale of Iranian oil, the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be closed”, he stated.
On Monday, Russia, too, expressed its “regret and alarm” at the prospect of an oil embargo. “What is happening here is open pressure and diktat, an attempt to 'punish' Iran for its intractable behaviour”, said the Russian foreign ministry. “This is a deeply mistaken approach, as we have told our European partners more than once. Under such pressure Iran will not agree to any concessions or any changes in its policy”, it went on. (CG/transl.rt)