Iran’s government ordered a halt to oil exports to Britain and France on Sunday, in what may be only an initial response to the European Union decision to cut off Iranian oil imports and freeze central bank assets beginning in July.

Britain and France depend little on Iranian oil, however, so their targeting may be a mostly symbolic act, a function of the strong positions Paris and London have taken in trying to halt Iranian nuclear enrichment and bring pressure to bear on Syria, one of Tehran’s closest allies.

Tehran may also be reluctant, when its economy has been damaged by existing sanctions, to deprive itself of revenues from its larger European customers. At the same time, it may be seeking to divide the 27-nation European Union between those who depend on Iranian oil and those who do not

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Filed under: * Economics, Politics • Economy • Energy, Natural Resources • Foreign Relations • Politics in General • * International News & Commentary • England / UK • Europe • France • Middle East • Iran

1. NoVA Scout wrote: “You’re fired.”  “I quit.” February 19, 10:12 pm | [comment link]

2. Cennydd13 wrote: I think Britain and France are in a much stronger economic position than the Iranians are, so I wouldn’t consider this to be a factor at all.  I think the Iranian government is just showing bravado and saying “we’re going to take our toys and go home.” February 20, 12:11 pm | [comment link]

3. Pageantmaster [KJS to Coventry] wrote: We still make the stuff. February 20, 8:28 pm | [comment link]

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