Iran warns against jet fuel sanctions

TEHRAN, May 17 (UPI) -- A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry warned Western nations Tuesday against taking part in a jet fuel embargo against his country.

Ramin Mehman-Parast told a news conference Iran will reciprocate against any country that attempts to interfere with its air travel, Iran's Fars News Agency reported.

"If they are to impose such an embargo against the airplanes of the Islamic Republic of Iran, we will reciprocate the move as we are ready to do so," Mehman-Parast said.

Tehran warned earlier it would file a lawsuit with international bodies against any country trying to block jet fuel to Iran.

U.S. President Barack Obama has signed legislation prohibiting countries that sell gasoline and other refined oil products to Iran from receiving Energy Department contracts to deliver crude oil to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

The two countries are at odds over Iran's nuclear program.