Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that sanctions on Iran's gasoline imports are "impossible" as the country is developing its own refineries, reported Xinhua.
"Some (western countries) have claimed that they will impose sanctions on Iran's gasoline, but this is not possible," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.
He made the remarks in the send-off ceremony of Iran's ex-oil minister Gholamhessein Nozari and introducing ceremony of the recently chosen oil minister Seyyed Masoud Mir-Kazemi for his new cabinet.
"I urge the officials of the Oil Ministry to design refineries (to produce gasoline) to supply the balance of the required gasoline for the people and to help the country's independence," said Ahmadinejad.
In August, during a ceremony to launch Iran's first home-made ocean liner in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, the president said that within one or two years Iran will produce its own gasoline.
"The commissioning of Star Refinery in Bandar Abbas will be completed within one or two years ... Can they still threat Iran with sanctions?" the state IRIB TV quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.
In fresh attempts, the Obama administration and his western allies are considering the option of cutting off supplies of gasoline and other refined oil products to Tehran if it refuses to negotiate on its disputed nuclear program.