Iran deployed warplanes and missiles yesterday in an “exercise” to protect nuclear sites threatened by possible Israeli attacks and warned it could cut oil exports to more EU nations unless sanctions were lifted.
The EU is well stocked with oil and petroleum products
The EU shrugged off the threat, saying it could cope with any halt in Iranian supplies.
Tehran’s stance marked a hardening of its defiance in an international standoff over its nuclear programme – and suggested it was readying for any eventual confrontation.
The moves were announced the same day as officials from the UN nuclear watchdog agency arrived in Tehran for a second round of talks they said were focused on “the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear programme”.
Iran, while holding out hope of reviving collapsed negotiations with world powers, has underlined it will not give up its nuclear ambitions, which it insists are purely peaceful.
Much of the West and Israel, though, fear Iran’s activities include research for atomic weapons.
The US and Europe have ramped up economic sanctions against Iran’s vital oil sector, while Israel has fuelled speculation it could be on the brink of carrying out air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Missiles, anti-aircraft artillery, radars and warplanes were deployed in the exercise dubbed “Sarollah”, a word borrowed from the Arabic meaning “God’s vengeance”.
“These manoeuvres aim to reinforce the coordination between the military and the Revolutionary Guards for a total coverage of the country’s sensitive facilities, especially nuclear sites,” the statement said.
At the same time, the deputy oil minister, who also runs the National Iranian Oil Company, warned that a cut in Iranian oil exports announced on Sunday against France and Britain could be expanded to other EU nations. “Certainly if the hostile actions of some European countries continue, the export of oil to these countries will be cut,” said Ahmad Qalebani, pointing the finger at Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands, according to a Mehr news agency report.
Iran exports about 20 per cent of its crude – some 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) – to the EU, most of which goes to Italy, Spain and Greece.
The EU reacted by saying it could cope. “In terms of immediate security of stocks, the EU is well stocked with oil and petroleum products to face a potential disruption of supplies,” said Sebastien Brabant, a spokesman for EU policy chief Catherine Ashton. Although the export halt for France and Britain was largely symbolic – neither country imports much Iranian oil – prices on world markets hit nine-month highs yesterday. The Brent and New York contracts reached $121.15 and $105.44 a barrel in early trading – the highest levels since May 5, 2011.
In late London deals, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April stood at $120.14 a barrel, up 56 cents compared with Friday’s close.
Iran’s defiance included another pointed military deployment: two Iranian warships state television said had docked in Syria to help train that allied country’s sailors.