TEHRAN - In retaliation for an agreement between the United States and European oil companies that has made it impossible for Iran's national airline to refuel its planes in most of Europe, the Islamic Republic has stopped fully providing the only British airline flying to Tehran with fuel.

British Midlands International (BMI), which operates daily flights between London and Tehran, said Monday that Iranian airline authorities have stopped fully refueling their planes for about a week, forcing the airline to make stops in third countries.

"We are currently not getting all the fuel we need at Tehran's main airport," said a spokeswoman for BMI. "So flights between London Heathrow and Tehran are currently subject to a short stop en route to take on more fuel; this is only a temporary measure."

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi confirmed that retaliatory measures had been taken but did not provide any details, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday. Rahimi echoed other Iranian officials by saying the U.S.-backed measures were illegal.

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