Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 19/ Trend F.Milad/
The National Iranian Oil Company's managing director has predicted that oil prices will rise to $150 per barrel on international markets as a consequence of Iran's move to suspend oil exports to European states.
Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Monday, NIOC head Ahmad Qalebani added that Iran has told European buyers that they should hereafter sign 3-5-year contracts with Iran.
He referred to the suspension of oil exports to the UK and France, adding that if Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Italy and Portugal continue their adverse attitude toward Iran, it will also cut oil exports to these countries.
Iranian Oil Ministry spokesperson Ali Reza Nikzad-Rahbar confirmed the report, saying, "Crude exports to British and French companies have been halted."
"We have our own oil customers," he added.
Hassan Tajik, the director of the Iranian Foreign Ministry's Western Europe Department, held separate meetings with the ambassadors of Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, the Netherlands, and France on Feb.
15, in which a range of issues, including the oil embargo, were discussed.
"We have made efforts to inform the European people of the fact that European governments themselves will be responsible for the consequences of their decision," Tajik said at the time.
The Iranian parliament has prepared a plan calling for a halt to Iran's oil exports to the EU after they voted for sanctions against the country. It will be discussed on March 2.