EU to Call on China, India to Join Oil Ban on Iran

BRUSSELS (NNN-KUNA) -- The European Union will encourage both China and India in the upcoming summits with the two Asian giants to join the "large international consensus on a ban on Iranian oil," an EU official said.

The EU-India summit will be held in New Delhi on Feb 10 and the EU-China summit will take place in Beijing on Feb 14 and 15.

"If they do not join in the embargo then they should at least not undermine the ban by buying more oil from Iran," said the official speaking on condition of anonymity here monday.

Last month, the EU imposed a total ban on Iranian oil imports and restrictions on Iran's Central Bank. Japan and South Korea are also expected to support the EU oil embargo on Iran.

India and China together account for about 34 per cent of Iran's oil exports. With China, the EU will also raise the issue on Syria following China's move to use its veto to stop a United Nations Security Council resolution on Syria.

In both the summits, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran will also be discussed.