Asia

Asia

Iran Cuts Fuel Flows Into Afghanistan

22 December 2010 19:07 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Afghan officials say Iran has stopped fuel exports to Afghanistan, stranding at least 2,000 fuel tankers on the border and driving up fuel prices ahead of what Afghans fear will be a severe winter, APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.
Officials said Wednesday the move, unconfirmed by Iran’s government, appears to reflect Iran’s belief the fuel will be funneled to U.S.-led coalition forces fighting the Taliban. Afghanistan insists the gasoline, diesel and heating oil is only for civilian use.
Officials said the fuel tankers have been piling up on the border of the western Nimroz, Herat and Farah provinces for nearly three weeks.
Afghans rely heavily on fuel supplies from Iran for heating their homes in the winter, when temperatures are known to drop well below freezing. Afghan officials say businesses are starting to suffer.
Afghanistan and Iran generally have good relations, but the Iranian regime opposes the presence of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. U.S. officials have repeatedly accused the administration of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of funding and supplying weapons to militants.