And in real world news... Iran halts oil exports to France, Britain.

POSTED BY: AURaptor
UPDATED: Monday, March 30, 2026 17:55
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AURAPTOR

Sunday, February 19, 2012 9:08 PM

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI
Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran has halted oil shipments to Britain and France, the Oil Ministry said Sunday, in an apparent pre-emptive blow against the European Union after the bloc imposed sanctions on Iran's crucial fuel exports.

The EU imposed tough sanctions against Iran last month, which included a freeze of the country's central bank assets and an oil embargo set to begin in July. Iran's Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi had warned earlier this month that Tehran could cut off oil exports to "hostile" European nations. The 27-nation EU accounts for about 18 percent of Iran's oil exports.

The EU sanctions, along with other punitive measures imposed by the U.S., are part of Western efforts to derail Iran's disputed nuclear program, which the West fears is aimed at developing atomic weapons. Iran denies the charges, and says its program is for peaceful purposes.

The spokesman for Iran's Oil Ministry, Ali Reza Nikzad-Rahbar, said on the ministry's website Sunday that "crude oil exports to British and French companies have been halted."

"We have our own customers and have no problem to sell and export our crude oil to new customers," he said.

Britain's Foreign Office declined comment, and there was no immediate response from French officials.

" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

WHOZIT

Sunday, February 19, 2012 9:15 PM

And WW3 begins when?

AURAPTOR

Sunday, February 19, 2012 9:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by whozit:
And WW3 begins when?

No idea. But I find this curious , as Hillary was just saying the other day that Iran was eager to get back to the discussion table and work things out.

Quote:

February 17, 2012

NEW YORK (JTA) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed Iran's stated willingness to restart negotiations and called it an "important step."

In comments to reporters after a meeting Friday at the State Department with Catherine Ashton, the European Union policy chief, Clinton said any resumption of negotiations with Iran would require sustained effort.

“We must be assured that if we make a decision to go forward, we see a sustained effort by Iran to come to the table to work until we have reached an outcome that has Iran coming back into compliance with their international obligations,” Clinton said. “We’re evaluating all of these factors. But I think it’s fair to say ... that we think this is an important step and we welcome the letter.”

The letter in question was sent to Ashton on Tuesday by Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, which proposed new discussions between Iran and the West.

Tensions over Iran's suspected nuclear weaspons program have been increasing steadily in recent weeks as heightened sanctions are imposed on the Islamic Republic and speculation persists of a possible Israeli military strike.

" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

KWICKO

Sunday, February 19, 2012 11:53 PM

Capitalism at work, eh? If you have a product that the rest of the world wants, you can pretty much set your own terms. Isn't that the way it's supposed to work?

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

FREMDFIRMA

Monday, February 20, 2012 1:54 AM

*gets popcorn*

1KIKI

Monday, February 20, 2012 3:14 AM

Well, I think they tucked their tails between their legs and ran away, leaving Kwicko all alone in the debate.

GEEZER

Monday, February 20, 2012 3:20 AM

So the EU was going to boycott Iranian oil come July anyway, and Iran cut them off in February.

Big whoop.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

ANTHONYT

Monday, February 20, 2012 4:02 AM

Hello,

I suppose the level of inconvenience depends on whether the EU was ready to be cut off immediately or not.

It amounts to:

Europe: "If you don't X, then we'll cut you off soon."

Iran: "Yeah? You're cut off now."

--Anthony

_______________________________________________

"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner

OONJERAH

Monday, February 20, 2012 4:42 AM

Once again, I don't think Iran is wholly wise here.

I am still wondering if they have any allies. Is there any gov't on the planet that trusts Iran?

"All I suggest is a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest" ~Paul Simon

ANTHONYT

Monday, February 20, 2012 4:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oonjerah:

Once again, I don't think Iran is wholly wise here.

I am still wondering if they have any allies. Is there any gov't on the planet that trusts Iran?

"All I suggest is a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest" ~Paul Simon

Hello,

Trust is not a word that applies overmuch to diplomacy. Mutual interest is more the thing. Everyone is trusted to do what is in their own best interests. Where two best interests overlap, there is 'trust.'

So the question is really, Is there anyone who shares an interest with Iran?

--Anthony

_______________________________________________

"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner

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