Iran leaves open oil weapon option in atomic row

TEHRAN, Mar 5 (Reuters) Iran reiterated today it had no plans to use its oil exports as a weapon in a dispute over its nuclear programme but said it could still do so ''if conditions changed''.

''We are not interested in using oil as a weapon ... but if the conditions change it could affect our decision,'' Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani told a news conference.

He did not specify what he meant by a change in conditions.

Iran has been reported to the U N Security Council, which can impose sanctions, after failing to convince the international community it is developing nuclear energy for power stations and not for weapons.

Iran is the fourth-biggest oil exporter in the world and the second-biggest in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

REUTERS SY KP1836