Iran to respond in kind if US tries to block oil exports – ministry

Iran will respond with equal countermeasures if the US tries to block its oil exports, the Foreign Ministry in Tehran said on Tuesday. US officials are stepping up diplomatic efforts to pressure countries to stop importing Iranian oil, Reuters said. “If America wants to take a serious step in this direction it will definitely be met with a reaction and equal countermeasures from Iran,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi was quoted as saying by IRNA. In a separate statement, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri said on Tuesday that US threats against Iran will draw a “strong, unimaginable and regrettable” response from Tehran.