Reuters: Iran will curb its mineral exports to countries that supported a new round of United Nations sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear program, an official was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran will curb its mineral exports to countries that supported a new round of United Nations sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear program, an official was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
The sanctions resolution, approved by the Security Council last week, expanded existing measures targeting Iranian banks and arms imports.
Iran refuses to halt its nuclear enrichment work that the West suspects is geared to making nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.
“Soon, the exports of mineral products to those countries that voted in favor of the sanctions against Iran will be limited,” Mohammad Masoud Samienejad, deputy industries and mine minister, said in comments carried by the daily Arman.
“The exports subtracted to these (sanction supporting) countries will be given to those others with whom we have not been able to trade due to production limitations,” he said.
He did not did not say who the buyers of Iranian mineral products are.
Iranian government officials were not immediately available for comment.
Iran is the second-largest crude producer within OPEC and the fifth largest oil exporter in the world, and has the second-largest gas reserves. It also has minerals including chromite, lead, zinc, copper coal, gold, tin and iron.
(Writing by Hashem Kalantari; editing by Sue Thomas)
