Markey: Reports of U.S.-British Cooperation on Strategic Oil Reserve Release Heartening for Consumers

Congressman Was First to Call for SPR Release

WASHINGTON (March 15, 2012) – According to a new report by Reuters, the U.S. and British governments are in talks to reach an agreement to release oil from American and international strategic oil reserves to battle back against Iranian diplomatic brinkmanship that has increased oil prices worldwide. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who was first to call for the release of America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve and has encouraged international cooperation similar to last year’s SPR release, issued the following statement:

“These reports, if true, would be yet another example of how responsible countries like Britain can work with the United States to battle back against the diplomatic and economic games currently being played by Iran."

“Other oil consuming nations in Europe, as well as other key Asian nations like Japan should also prepare to release oil from their reserves, so that the world can send a unified signal to Iran that we will not tolerate their efforts to acquire nuclear weapons and we are prepared to impose strong sanctions on Tehran.”