2 April 2002, 12:41 Iran to "consider" using oil as weapon against US over Israel
KUALA LUMPUR (AFX-ASIA) - Iran will consider using oil as a weapon
to force the US to pressure Israel into withdrawing from Palestinian
territory, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said.
Responding at a news conference to a proposal floated by Iraq
Monday, Kharazi said the use of Arab oil to turn the screws on the US
and Israel will depend on a collective decision by Islamic countries.
"If they decide to use oil as a weapon, certainly Iran will
consider it. It will be effective if all Muslim countries would take
such a decision," he said on the sidelines of an Organisation of the
Islamic Conference meeting on terrorism.
Iraq's ruling Baath party on Monday called on Arab countries to use
their oil power against Israel and the US to ensure the liberation of
Palestinian land.
Arab oil producers, who account for half of world supplies, have
not used the oil card since the 1973 crisis, despite repeated calls by
Iraq and others to do so.
Baath branded the US "an enemy and a partner of Zionism," and
alleged that the Israeli military offensive in the Palestinian
territories "was mounted in joint agreement with the American
administration."
Washington dismissed Baghdad's call as "random musings".
Deputy State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said the idea is
not being taken seriously in the Arab world.
"I just don't have anything on random musings from the Iraqi
regime," Reeker told reporters when asked about Iraq's call.
"I don't think the Arab world takes that seriously," he added.
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