Iran Criticizes Iraq for Increasing Crude Exports

Iran's Oil Minister says Iraq has increased its crude oil exports to compensate for a fall in Iranian exports as a result of sanctions over Tehran's suspected nuclear program, calling the policy "not friendly at all."

Bijan Namdar Zanganeh is quoted by the semiofficial Mehr news agency Saturday as saying that Iraq's oil policies are to Iran's detriment.

Iran's oil exports are believed to have fallen from about 2.5 million to over 1.2 million barrels a day as a result of a Western oil embargo against Iran over Tehran's uranium enrichment program.

The U.S. and its allies fear that Iran may ultimately be able to develop a nuclear weapon, a charge Iran denies.

Iran generally enjoys good relations with Iraq's Shiite-led government.