Iran Summons Danish Envoy to Protest EU Oil Embargo

Iran on Tuesday summoned the Danish envoy, whose nation currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, after the 27-nation bloc moved to impose an embargo on Iranian oil exports, media reported.

A statement carried by official media said the Iranian deputy foreign minister in charge of Europe and American affairs, Ali Asghar Khaji, expressed Tehran's "strong protest to this illogical decision" in his meeting with the diplomat.

"Iranian people have repeatedly proven that they will not give up their legitimate and legal rights under pressure and oppressive measures and will not do so in the future," Khaji reportedly told the envoy, Anders Christian Hougaard.

Khaji held the bloc "responsible for the repercussions of their unconsidered and crisis-making decision."

The European Union on Monday slapped an embargo on Iranian oil exports as the West ramped up pressure on Tehran over its controversial nuclear drive and urged it to return to the negotiating table.

The Islamic republic, which is already under four rounds of United Nations sanctions, vehemently denies its nuclear program masks an atomic weapons drive as the West alleges, and insists it is for civilian purposes only.

The Danish government confirmed its ambassador in Tehran had been summoned to the Iranian foreign ministry.

"It was in his capacity as the representative of the Danish presidency of the EU, which currently represents the European Union in Tehran," Danish Foreign Minister Villy Soevndal was quoted as saying by the ministry's press office.

He said the summons was a reaction to the vote on Monday by the EU for its "severe and unprecedented stance against Iran, which relates to the Iranian oil industry as well as the Iranian financial sector."

"From the Danish side, we fully support the EU decision on this subject."

EU foreign ministers agreed on an immediate ban on oil imports and a phase-out of existing contracts up to July 1. They also froze the assets of Iran's central bank while ensuring legitimate trade under strict conditions.

The bloc imported some 600,000 barrels per day of Iranian oil in the first 10 months of last year, making it a key market alongside India and China, which has refused to bow to pressure from Washington to dry up Iran's oil revenues.

The new EU sanctions meanwhile would make it even more difficult for Iran to be paid in foreign currency for its oil exports, worth more than 100 billion dollars in 2011.