Russia has refused to support a proposed European Union-led global ban on Iranian oil exports, according to Russian energy minister Sergei Shmatko . . . Moscow does not import any Iranian crude oil but it rejected the proposal because of its “political” motivation  . . . European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger announced yesterday that the EU wants to include both the United States and Russia in the ban . . . European countries import 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian oil, according to OPEC . . . Italy, Spain, and Greece are the primary EU importers of Iranian oil . . . Greece is reportedly the only nation to have publically raised reservations and objected to the ban . . . Moscow’s refusal is primarily for political reasons as it is well known for remaining neutral on politically motivated bans and sanctions . . . its refusal to agree to a ban will have a negligible economic impact but is a blow to the political goals of the European Union . . . the lack of Russian support could provide cover for the EU to refrain from instituting the embargo since over the last few days the EU has become skittish about the effect that an Iranian oil ,embargo would have on weak EU economies.