Iran : Venezuela Threatens To Halt Oil Exports to US if 'Hostility' Continues
IRNA (Internet Version-WWW)
Sunday, July 30, 2006

Tehran , 30 July: Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez called for the unity of OPEC members against American hostilities.

Following his meeting with the Iranian oil minister on Sunday (30 July), in a gathering of correspondents, he said that the present status of the oil market is the result of the offensive American policies. He added: America intends to take the important oil producing and exporting countries under its control and will spare no effort in this respect.

He said that the 2002 coup in Venezuela was not incidental and was in fact an oil coup. He added: Iraq 's situation is dreadful from every aspect. He added: America 's continuous hostility against Iran and some crude oil producing and exporting countries has raised oil prices to the present level.

Ramirez predicted that oil prices will remain at the present level for a long time. He said that the volume of consuming countries' oil reserves and increase in the demand for oil in the countries with strong economies, such as China and America, also affect oil prices.

Concerning the Venezuelan president threatening that he will boycott export of oil to America , he said: We have a transparent policy. If America continues its hostile policies toward us, we will stop our oil export to that country.

Ramirez said that we are sure that Iran would have done the same if it had been under attack. He added: We cannot constantly export our oil to America and be treated with hostility. We have to take certain measures if American policies continue.

Concerning cooperation between Iran and Venezuela in connection with oil, he said: Petropars Company has started cooperation with a Venezuelan oil company to exploit oil from an important field in Venezuela .