Gulf ministers discuss Iran threats

Foreign ministers of six Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, are meeting in Istanbul today to explore new ways of co-operation with Turkey amid Iranian threats to immediately halt oil exports to Europe.

The latest threat from Iran follows a European Union decision earlier this week to enforce an oil embargo against Iran starting this summer, to pressure Tehran over its secretive nuclear programme which the West fears is aimed at developing nuclear weapons, a charge denied by Iran.

Iran, the world's third-largest oil exporter, has also threatened to close the oil tanker lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, the route for about one-fifth of the world's crude.