Iran repeats call for oil sanctions

TEHRAN, IRAN - Islamic nations should agree to impose a one-month cut in oil supplies, state television quoted Iran&#39;s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as saying Wednesday. <br> <br> The proposal for a one-month cut is a ``basic and serious issue,&#39;&#39; said Khamanei, repeating a call he made last month. <br> <br> Khamenei, President Mohammed Khatami and Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh have said Iran would halt oil exports to supporters of Israel for one month if other Islamic nations followed suit, in response to Israel&#39;s invasions of Palestinian-run territories. <br> <br> ``A one-month cut will demonstrate that the Islamic nations have the capability to confront international dictatorship,&#39;&#39; Khamanei said. <br> <br> Iran, which regards the United States as the foremost supporter of Israel, has been a vocal advocate of using oil as a weapon against Israel and its Western supporters in a bid to force them to compromise on the Palestinian issue. But unlike Iraq, it has not moved unilaterally. <br> <br> In April, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein cut off Iraq&#39;s oil exports, saying sales would not resume for 30 days or until Israel withdraws from Palestinian territories. No other oil exporter has followed Iraq&#39;s lead. <br> <br> Iran is the second-largest producer inside the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Saudi Arabia, OPEC&#39;s largest producer by far, has dismissed the sanctions notion.

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