Salehi: Iran could be a good partner for EU

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi blasted the sanctions imposed against Iran by the U.S. and the EU, and advised the European countries not to sacrifice their good ties with Tehran for Washington, Fars News Agency reported.

"We believe that Europe should follow wiser and independent policy," Salehi said, adding Europe is a key economic rival of the U.S and that Washington has to control it in some way to preserve its own power.

Energy and oil resources are one of those tools to control the countries, Salehi said during a joint press conference with visiting Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf Bin Alawi.

Salehi pointed out Iran can be a good partner for the European Union in providing the required energy for the union, stressing the country seeks the best relations with Europe.

Meantime, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi called on the European countries to make a final decision on oil imports from Iran, warning that they will be sanctioned by Tehran otherwise.

Iran has recently imposed a ban on oil exports to Britain and France as the main two states which pushed the EU to sanction oil imports from Iran.