Iran says oil ban will not halt nuclear work

The United States and its allies say Iran is trying to develop weapons under cover of a civilian nuclear program. But energy-rich Iran denies this, saying it needs nuclear technology to generate electricity.

Washington and Israel have not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the standoff. Iran has warned of firm retaliation if attacked, including targeting Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf and closing off the vital oil shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.

But Qasemi played down the possibility of Iran blocking the crucial waterway.

"Iran is not after tension, and closure of the Strait is a politically motivated issue," he said.

Isolated Iran is also facing problems over the price it charges neighbor Turkey for its natural gas exports. Turkey said on January 31 that it was taking Tehran to international arbitration over the matter.

Qasemi rejected Ankara's complaint that the price was too high. "Iran surely cannot decrease its natural gas price (for Turkey) without legal authorization," he said.

Iran exports 10 billion cubic meters of gas each year to Turkey, making it Ankara's second-biggest supplier after Russia.

The Islamic state holds the world's second-largest gas reserves, but currently has no major net exports, partly because of sanctions