An Iranian lawmaker says his parliament has postponed vote on a bill requiring the government to immediately halt crude oil sales to Europe, according to AP.

The ban would be a response to the EU's decision to stop importing Iranian oil and freeze assets of its central bank.

It was the latest attempt to pressure Iran over its nuclear program. The U.S. and its allies believe it is aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes.

Lawmaker Ali Adiani Rad is quoted by the semiofficial ISNA news agency as saying lawmakers need experts' views before they vote on the ban.

Many Iranian officials have called for an immediate ban on oil exports to the European bloc before the EU's ban goes into full effect in July.