Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 7/ Trend M. Moezzi
The time for Iran to barter oil for goods passed long ago and the country should continue to sell its oil, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) quoted a member of parliament as saying.
Shakour Akbarnejad represents the northwestern city of Tabriz in Iran's Majlis (parliament).
Mr. Akbarnejad said Iran's affairs and projects need money to move ahead and bartering oil for goods would only be a short-term solution.
MP's comments were in response to Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi's earlier remarks that Iran may do oil bartering with some countries. The minister added that the country has not used this method in oil trade.
Iran currently sells oil to China in euros and dollars, the minister said, emphasizing that the country will not sell oil on discount prices, Mehr news agency reported. He insisted on the Islamic Republic's peaceful nuclear activities. The European Union formally imposed an oil embargo on Iran and agreed to a freeze on the assets of the Central Bank of Iran on January 23, but existing contracts will be honored until July 1.