Iran promised Tuesday that it would still maintain the current oil export to the world market though the UN Security Council decided last Saturday to sanction against Tehran's nuclear program, local Fars news agency reported.

Oil Minister Seyed Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh was quoted as saying that though Iran lived under sanctions, the world "should not be worried about the free flow and export of Iran's oil to the world markets because we are doing normal transactions as before and we will even embark on signing new contracts as well."

"They (global oil consumers) don't have to worry because they are one of the two decision-making parties in such transactions and they can prevent adoption of irrelevant decisions," Hamaneh stressed, adding the UN decision would have no impact on Iran's oil industry and exports.

The top oil official, meanwhile, vowed that "when necessary, the country will use any kind of weapon to defend itself, the ruling system has decided not to give in to pressures and force, and as a part of this system the oil ministry will do everything possible to pursue the government's policies."

Iran is the second largest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the fourth largest oil producer in the world.

The UN Security Council on Saturday adopted unanimously the resolution 1737, demanding that Iran "suspend all enrichment- related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, and work on all heavy water-related projects."

The resolution also called on all states to impose a ban on trade with Iran in goods related to its nuclear programs and ballistic missile delivery systems, while freezing the funds, other financial assets and economic resources owned or controlled by officials and companies in Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

Shortly after the adoption, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement lashing out at the resolution as an "illegal measure."

Source: Xinhua