Iran looks to cut oil sales to six EU countries

(TEHRAN) - Iran said on Wednesday it was looking to cut oil sales to six EU countries in retaliation for a staggered EU ban on its petroleum exports, the website of state broadcaster IRIB reported.

"Today the ambassadors of some European countries were called in by the foreign ministry, where it was insisted to them that Iran will revise its oil sale to these countries," IRIB reported without giving further details.

The countries targeted were France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, it said.

State-funded Press TV used starker language than IRIB, saying that "Iran on Wednesday cut oil exports to six European countries".

However a diplomat from one of the EU embassies involved in the discussions with the Iranian foreign ministry said his ambassador had received no notification at all of any cut in Iranian oil sales.

"There was nothing like that," he told AFP.

Iran has previously threatened to halt oil exports to all EU countries.

MPs last month initially threatened to pass a law cutting the exports at once, but backed away as parliamentary committees and other officials weighed into the matter.