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Iran Says Planes Refused Fuel in Europe

19 October 2010 22:16 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Iran says some foreign companies have refused to refuel its planes at European airports as a result of international sanctions imposed on Tehran, APA reports quoting voanews.com website.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that some Western companies have â€œunfortunatelyâ€ adopted â€œinappropriateâ€ measures. He warned Western companies that Iran will not tolerate the policy and will take action against them.
Last July, Iranian officials denied there was a problem and called such reports a â€œpsychological war.â€ At the time, Royal Dutch Shell was reported to have refused to renew contracts to supply jet fuel to Iran Air, the countryâ€™s national carrier. Also, British Petroleum said it had stopped supplying jet fuel to the Iranian airline at Germanyâ€™s Hamburg airport.
Iran is under United Nations sanctions for its refusal to stop enriching uranium. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The EU and several countries also have imposed their own penalties on Iran.
A statement on Iran Airâ€™s website warns travelers at Londonâ€™s Heathrow airport to expect unscheduled refueling stops on flights to Tehran.
Meanwhile, China is denying a report that officials are allowing some Chinese companies to help Iran develop nuclear weapons. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told reporters Tuesday China is enforcing sanctions against Tehran, adding that China has fulfilled its international obligations.
Ma also said China has made its position clear to the United States.
Late Sunday, The Washington Post reported that U.S. officials are concerned China is letting some companies bypass the sanctions. The article quoted an unnamed official, who said the U.S. State Department has asked Chinese officials to investigate.
China is one of Iranâ€™s main trading partners.