Iran would prefer not to use oil weapon – minister

Reuters: Iran said on Wednesday it hoped it would not have to play the oil card in a dispute over its atomic programme but insisted it would defend its rights. TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran said on Wednesday it hoped it would not have to play the oil card in a dispute over its atomic programme but insisted it would defend its rights.

“I hope these remarks are only used as a show of strength and we will not be forced to use this tool as leverage,” Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh was quoted as saying by the ISNA students news agency.

“We need oil exports because currency that comes from them should be used to build infrastructure. However, if we feel we have to, we will defend our rights,” he added.