Iran could play oil card if forced on atomic issue

TEHRAN, Aug 6 (Reuters) Iran does not want to cut oil exports in a dispute over its atomic work but it may have to do so if it feels badly treated by the international community, a senior official said today.

''We do not want to use the oil weapon, it is them who would impose it upon us. Iran should be allowed to defend its rights in proportion to their stance,'' chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani told a news conference.

Iran is the world's fourth biggest oil exporter.

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