IRAN REJECTS CLAIM THAT PLANES WERE DENIED FUEL

Iran's foreign ministry has denied claims that the country's planes are being prevented from refuelling at some foreign airports.

On Monday an Iranian aviation official accused the UK, Germany and the United Arab Emirates of refusing to supply fuel for Iranian airliners.

But a foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that “no such limitation has been imposed”.

Last week the US approved new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.

Tehran says its nuclear industry is for peaceful purposes but Western powers fear it is trying to develop a bomb.

On Monday Mehdi Aliyari, secretary of the Iranian Airlines Union, told Iranian media: “Since last week, our planes have been refused fuel at airports in Britain, Germany and UAE because of the sanctions imposed by America.”

He said the move had considerably increased the costs of national carrier Iran Air and the private airline Mahan Air.

Britain, Germany and UAE all denied the claim.
On Tuesday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said the false report had been part of a “psychological war” against Tehran.