Greece
said
Thursday it was looking for alternative options to counterbalance the effects
of a planned European Union embargo on Iranian oil imports on its struggling
economy.
"
Greece
has
expressed certain concerns regarding the effects of taking such measures on
European economies," foreign ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras told
a news briefing.
"The competent authorities in
Greece
have
examined, and continue to examine, possible supply from other sources," he
said, without elaborating.
After weeks of fraught talks on an embargo which could hurt debt-straddled
European Union nations, EU ministers last month agreed on an immediate ban on
oil imports and a gradual phase-out of existing contracts between now and July
1.
Greece
imports around a third of its oil from
Iran
at
advantageous credit terms.
Italy
and
Spain
are
also major Iranian oil importers.
In the toughest action yet against
Iran
's
ability to fund its nuclear program, the EU outlawed petrochemical imports and
investments and banned the sale of gold, diamonds and other precious metals.
The EU and the
United States
are
hoping to force
Tehran
to
return to negotiations amid concerns it is inching ever closer to building a
nuclear bomb.
"We want a solution and we want cooperation," Delavekouras said. "We believe in
diplomacy," he added.