Iran calls for oil export review

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TEHRAN, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- An Iranian energy official called on lawmakers in Tehran to review oil sales to foreign countries during winter.

U.S. and European sanctions targeting the Iranian energy sector went into force during the summer. The U.S. government issued a series of waivers for countries that displayed a "significant" cut back on crude oil purchases from Iran, however.

Nasser Soudani, vice chairman of the energy commission in the Iranian Parliament, told the semiofficial Fars News Agency that oil exports should be reviewed. He said "certain" Western countries may try to by Iranian oil given anticipated demand increases during the winter months.

"Therefore ... the Parliament needs to study and approve a bill to avoid oil sales in the cold season to those states that don't buy oil from Iran in the warm season," he said.

Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi had said restrictions on crude oil sales from Iran were hitting consumers.

"In view of the present conditions in the international oil market, the oil prices are forecast to rise in the winter as demand for energy goes up," he was quoted as saying.