Royal Dutch Shell is ending sales of petrol to Iran. The British-Dutch oil company refuses to give a reason for the decision.

It is possible that the decision has been taken in light of Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.

The West believes Iran is secretly developing a nuclear weapon.

The United States has called for the United Nations to tighten sanctions and persuade companies to stop their cooperation with Iran.

Shell is not the only company to stop petrol supplies to Tehran, other oil companies have also ended their contracts with the Islamic republic. On Monday, the world’s largest oil company Vitrol announced it would be ending its supplies of oil to Iran, as did oil giants Glencore and Trafigura.

Iran does produce its own oil, but it depends on imports for refined products.