Crude Prices Decline Hurting Revenues, Iran Threatens To Cut Off Supply

Crude oil prices have been on a steady decline in the past couple of weeks as global demand remains weak. These declines are pressuring Iran, who is already selling oil below market prices. That's why it was no surprise today when Iran tried to prop up prices by threatening to cut off oil sales altogether.

Reuters: Iran said on Tuesday it would stop oil exports if pressure from Western sanctions got any tighter and that it had a "Plan B" contingency strategy to survive without oil revenues.

"If sanctions intensify we will stop exporting oil," Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi told reporters in Dubai.

Qasemi's statement is the latest in a series of threats of retaliation by Tehran in response to the sanctions, which have heightened political tensions across the Middle East and, analysts say, led to a sharp drop in Iranian oil exports.

"We have prepared a plan to run the country without any oil revenues," Qasemi said, adding, "So far to date we haven't had any serious problems, but if the sanctions were to be renewed we would go for 'Plan B.'

"If you continue to add to the sanctions we (will) cut our oil exports to the world... We are hopeful that this doesn't happen, because citizens will suffer. We don't want to see European and U.S. citizens suffer," he said, adding that the loss of Iranian oil on the market would drive up oil prices.

Brent rallied on the announcement but not nearly enough to offset recent declines.

Market participants don't believe Iran would cut off its only major source of funds to "punish" the West. This simply shows an increasing desperation of the government as it tries to cling to power. Internal rift within the government is escalating (see NYTimes story), and it looks increasingly likely that Ahmadinejad is on his way out. It is possible that he will be used as a scapegoat by his successor who will blame him for the nation's deteriorating economic conditions. Additional declines in oil prices combined with increased sanctions from the EU and the collapsing currency will further destabilize an already strained political situation in Iran.