Oil Energy Thread (oih)

[madrose1]

Caracas threatens oil cut in case of US aggression
Sun Jul 30, 2006 7:36am ET
International News

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Venezuela will cut its oil exports to the United States if Washington takes a hostile stance toward Caracas, Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez was quoted as saying by Iran's official IRNA news agency on Sunday.

The Web site of the U.S. Energy Information Administration says 11.8 percent of U.S. oil imports came from Venezuela in 2004. The United States is the main buyer of Venezuelan oil.

"Our policy is clear; if America wants to have a hostile policy toward us, we will stop exporting oil to that country," he said in remarks translated into Persian.

"If Iran were under attack, it would definitely act just like us," he added.



Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accuses Washington of backing a failed coup against him in 2002. The U.S. denies the charge.

Chavez says any attempt by the U.S. to invade the Caribbean country or assassinate him would result in the suspension of oil sales to the U.S.