Oil is weapon against Israel, U.S., says Iranian aide

TEHRAN (Reuters) – An aide to Iran’s top authority said Wednesday oil could be used as a weapon against Israel, the United States and their allies, echoing an earlier call by an Iranian commander to impose a crude oil embargo over Gaza.

Iran, OPEC’s No. 2 oil producer, has said in the past oil could be used as a weapon in rows with its enemies. A military commander on January 4 called on Islamic countries to cut oil exports to Israel’s supporters over the Gaza crisis.

But Saudi Arabia, the biggest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said shortly afterwards that Middle East producers would ignore the commander’s call.

Yahya Rahim-Safavi, a former Revolutionary Guards commander and now senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Muslim states were paying “close attention” to actions by the United States, Israel and their allies.

Reuters