Iran says won't rule out using oil as a weapon

[babylonsister]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070619/ts_nm/iran_energy_weapon_dc;_ylt=Al7j1hNs3248dWNVEEWeeK6s0NUE

Iran says won't rule out using oil as a weapon

Tue Jun 19, 3:57 AM ET

TEHRAN (Reuters) -
Iran will not rule out using oil as a weapon if the United States resorts to military action against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program, an Iranian oil official said in remarks published on Tuesday.

"When the Americans say that military action in regard to the nuclear issue has not been put aside, Iran can also say that it will not put aside oil as a tool," Iran's OPEC governor, Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, told Iran's Sharq newspaper.

Washington says it wants a diplomatic end to a row over Iran's nuclear ambitions but has not ruled out force if that route fails. Iranian officials say they do not want to use oil as a weapon but have also said they might do so if pushed.

The United States accuses Iran of seeking to build atomic bombs, a charge Tehran denies.

"We will not start using this tool (of oil) but if others use their tools that they have not put aside to put pressure on negotiations, it is natural that the two sides would discuss all their tools," Kazempour Ardebili said.

more...

[RB TexLa]

1. Too bad Kathleen Blanco ruled out using it against the US

[mainegreen]

2. Sounds like a bluff to me.

Not only the US, but China, EU and India won't like that as well.

[NeedleCast]

3. Tools

We will not start using this tool (of oil) but if others use their tools that they have not put aside to put pressure on negotiations, it is natural that the two sides would discuss all their tools

That's the core of the problem. So many tools are involved.