Iran discusses sanctions with EU ambassadors

(TEHRAN) - Iran's foreign ministry called in six European ambassadors on Wednesday to discuss EU sanctions against Tehran, particularly moves to ban Iranian oil imports, Iranian media and some of the embassies said.

The ambassadors of France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece and Portugal were "invited" to speak separately with Hassan Tajik, head of the ministry's Western Europe department, the official IRNA news agency reported.

IRNA said the French, Italian and Spanish diplomats had already held their meeting with Tajik.

One of the embassies said the discussion focused on the European Union's January 16 announcement of a progressive ban on Iranian oil. The Iranian official expressed concern that the ban could hurt fragile EU economies, a diplomat said.

The EU ban is putting further pressure on Iran's economy, which is mainly reliant on oil exports.

Iranian officials and lawmakers have expressed anger at the EU measure, which is designed to push Tehran to halt its nuclear activities. Western countries allege Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon, despite Tehran's denials.

Iran is the second-biggest producer in OPEC, behind Saudi Arabia. It pumps some 3.5 million barrels a day, and exports 2.5 million of them.

Around 20 percent of the exports go to EU countries, mainly Italy, Spain and Greece.