MOBILE DEVICES
Free Headline Alerts     
Worldwide Web WorldTribune.com

  breaking... 


Tuesday, July 6, 2010     GET REAL

Two Gulf states deny fuel to Iran civilian planes

NICOSIA — The United Arab Emirates was said to have denied fuel to Iranian aircraft.

ShareThis

Iranian officials reported that the UAE has been one of at least four U.S. allies to have refused fuel to visiting Iranian civilian aircraft, Middle East Newsline reported. They identified the other countries as Britain, Germany and Kuwait, which imposed the measures in July 2010.

"This [UAE refusal] can elicit reaction from Iran," Iranian parliamentarian Pervez Sorouri said.


Also In This Edition



Sorouri, a member of parliament's Foreign Policy and National Security Committee, did not specify Iranian retaliation options against Abu Dhabi. But the parliamentarian stressed that Iran was a key trading partner of the UAE.

Officials said at least two GCC states have denied fuel to Iranian aircraft, particularly those from the state-owned airliner as well as the private Mahan Air. They said Kuwaiti airports also refused to supply fuel to Iranian jets in July.

"Since last week, after passage of the unilateral law by America and the sanctions against Iran, airports in England, Germany, the UAE have refused to provide fuel to Iranian planes," Iranian Airlines Union secretary Mehdi Aliyari said on July 5.

Industry sources said European oil companies have also halted jet fuel to Iran. The sources identified them as Air, BP and Royal Dutch Shell.

For its part, the UAE has denied halting jet fuel to Iranian aircraft. Iran maintains five flights a week to Dubai.

Iranian officials said the denial of fuel to Iranian aircraft began after the United States approved new sanctions against Teheran's nuclear program and gasoline imports. They said the administration of President Barack Obama contacted U.S. allies, including those in the Gulf, to enforce the sanctions.

"A special committee has been set up in the Iranian parliament to examine the U.S. sanctions on jet fuel," Iranian parliamentarian Kazem Jalali said. "The U.S. president has done his best to isolate the Islamic republic of Iran, but to no avail."



About Us     l    Contact Us     l    Geostrategy-Direct.com     l    East-Asia-Intel.com
Copyright © 2010    East West Services, Inc.    All rights reserved.