Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 23 / Trend S.Isayev, T. Jafarov/
Iran can make the world unsafe for the West, if the U.S. tries something in the Strait of Hormuz, Vice-Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Esmail Kowsari said, Fars reported.
"If the West does not require Iranian oil, we will sell it to non-european importers," Kowsari added. "However, if they try to prevent us from doing it, then the Strait of Hormuz will be closed."
Tensions with Iran have risen, with Vice President Reza Rahimi warning on Dec. 27 that Iran, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, after Saudi Arabia, may close the Strait of Hormuz if western nations block its crude oil sales.
Today EU nations agreed on an oil embargo against Iran as part of sanctions meant to pressure the country to resume talks on its nuclear program, AP reported.
Diplomats said the EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels would officially adopt the measures later Monday, now that the details had been hashed out by the 27 ambassadors to the EU.
The measures include an immediate ban on new contracts for Iranian crude oil and petroleum products, while existing contracts will be allowed to run until July.