French energy company Total says it has stopped petrol deliveries to Iran, amid growing international pressure over Iran's nuclear programme.

受到伊朗核计划所不断带来的国际压力的影响，法国能源公司道达尔停止向伊朗运送石油。

Iran cannot refine enough petrol for its domestic needs

Total confirmed the move days after the US Congress passed unilateral（单边的） sanctions that could punish companies doing business with Iran.

The sanctions still have to be signed into law by US President Barack Obama.

The US and some allies believe Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon. Tehran says its nuclear programme is peaceful.

It was not immediately clear how much petrol Total had been supplying to Iran, or exactly when deliveries were stopped.

But the Financial Times newspaper quoted traders as saying that Total had stopped supplies about a month ago.

Dependence¹ on imports

The US sanctions aim to stop international companies from investing in Iran's oil and gas industries or supplying it with petroleum² products by preventing them from trading in the US if they trade with Iran.

Such measures are not part of the most recent round of sanctions approved by the UN, since Russia and China, both investors³ in Iran's energy sector⁴, objected.

Other companies have already taken similar action to Total in anticipation⁵（预先） of the measure passed by Congress.

Spain's Repsol confirmed on Monday that it had withdrawn⁶ from a contract it won with Royal Dutch Shell to develop the South Pars⁷ gas field in southern Iran, Reuters news agency reported.

The White House says President Obama will probably sign the Congress bill into law later this week.

The American approach is designed to target a weak part of the Iranian economy, BBC world affairs analyst⁸ Paul Reynolds reports.

Despite its huge oil and gas reserves, Iran still cannot refine enough petroleum products for domestic demand and depends on imports for 30-40% of its petrol needs.

However, Iran has other investors and suppliers and the practical effects remain to be determined⁹.