WASHINGTON, July 30 (Reuters) — To pressure Tehran to give up its nuclear program, the U.S. Senate has voted to ban companies that sell gasoline and other refined oil products to Iran from also receiving Energy Department contracts to deliver crude to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Iran holds some of the world’s biggest oil reserves, but it imports 40 percent of its gasoline to meet growing demand. U.S. lawmakers hope that by cutting off the country’s motor fuel, Tehran will abandon its nuclear program, which they fear could be used to make weapons.
Iran says its nuclear program would be used for peaceful purposes to generate electricity.
The Senate included language to go after Iran’s gasoline suppliers in an $34 billion energy and water spending bill that the chamber approved late on Wednesday. The measure must now be reconciled with a similar bill passed by the House of Representatives. [ … ]
» Read more: US Senate votes to penalize Iran gasoline suppliers
