Iran Not To Abandon Demands Even If It May Not Export Single Drop Of Oil

Tehran, Feb 5, IRNA -- Iran will not abandon its legitimate demands even if it may not export a single drop of oil, Minister of Oil Rostam Ghasemi said on Saturday. He told a press conference on the occasion of 33rd anniversary of triumph of the Islamic Revolution that Iran will not give concession to any country under political pressure and propaganda campaign they wage against Iran. Asked whether the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will respect Iran's right as a fellow member state by honoring their quota and Iranian share in the oil market, Ghasemi said that OPEC is an economic organization and has always been away from political challenges for long times since its establishment. Ghasemi said that Iran has forwarded a letter to Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul-Kareem Luaibi, the current OPEC president, calling for cooperation among the member states and honoring the rights of every sovereign member. 'The oil market is a business sector and currently there is a balance in the market. We do not think the OPEC member states would ignore rights of a fellow member,' Ghasemi said. He made it clear that Iran expects Saudi Arabia to honor its commitments to OPEC quota mechanism. Ghasemi regretted that over the past 33 years the western governments have failed to come to terms with Iran and they have always cherished the illusion of putting pressure to force Iran to give up. He said that the US oil sanctions have been in force for many years and that Iran has always insisted on its demands. Ghasemi called on the US and European governments to enter into negotiations with Iran rather than pressure, because Iran will never back down on its demands. He criticized the European governments for obeying the US demands and said, 'I hope the Europeans will revise their sanctions. Otherwise, the European people will pay a heavy price for oil.' Ghasemi said that the European countries do not have considerable debt for their oil purchases and Iran has said that they had better cut oil purchase from Iran now if they want to cut it six months later. Asked whether there are differences of views between the government and Majlis about stopping of oil exports to the European countries, Ghasemi said that there is no difference in this respect. 'Iran will cut oil export to certain countries and supply of oil will continue to other European countries which have contracts on purchase of oil from Iran,' Ghasemi said./end