Reuters: Britain will support an embargo on Iranian oil imports following the deterioration of relations between the two countries, a diplomatic source told Reuters on Wednesday, in an apparent reversal of its former position.
LONDON Nov 30 (Reuters) – Britain will support an embargo on Iranian oil imports following the deterioration of relations between the two countries, a diplomatic source told Reuters on Wednesday, in an apparent reversal of its former position.
“Now that the UK has downgraded diplomatic relations with Iran, it will support increased sanctions…and would likely go ahead with those sanctions unilaterally or with France and Germany,” said a diplomatic source, referring to the ban on Iranian crude oil imports.
Britain shut down the Iranian embassy in London and expelled all its staff on Wednesday, saying the storming of the British diplomatic mission in Tehran could not have taken place without some degree of consent from Iranian authorities.
Britain has not recently imported Iranian oil but France and Germany have, according to the International Energy Agency.
(Reporting by Emma Farge; editing by Keiron Henderson)