Doha - Any eventual European embargo on Iranian oil would be a political decision and Russia does not believe that energy supplies should be used to apply pressure, according to Russia's Energy Minister Sreghei Shmatko, who rejected possible new international sanctions against the Iranian regime. The European Commissioner for Energy, Gunther Ottinger, spoke yesterday of consensus between a number of E.U. countries, concerning an embargo on Iran's oil, expressing the hope that Moscow would support such a decision. When questioned during a press conference at an oil conference in Doha, Shmatko emphasized that Russia is one of the world's main producers and "does not import a single ton of Iranian oil." "It is quite obvious that this decision is based on political reasons and in such situations we try and remain as neutral as possible." The Russian minister also suggested that countries worried about the Islamic Republic's development of a nuclear programme, should try and find a diplomatic solution. "As far as the nuclear issue is concerned," he added, "we should try and discuss the matter in other contexts, such as for example the United Nations' Security Council."