Brussels, Belgium (AHN) – A European Union official said Thursday the 27-nation bloc can start its oil embargo on Iran six months after agreeing to do so as three member countries—Greece, Italy and Spain—need to find alternative sources of oil first.

The official privy to ongoing negotiations of EU foreign ministers on the imposition of the embargo also said the ban on Iranian petrochemical products may start three months after all EU states agree on the oil embargo in their meeting on Jan. 23, the deadline for coming up with a collective decision.

The official added that it is possible that Italy may initially be exempted from imposing the oil embargo as it needs to sell oil imports to pay off its debt to Rome-based oil company Eni SpA.

EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to explore ways to implement the oil embargo, according to Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for the European Commission.

The EU imports 450,000 barrels of Iranian oil per day with Greece, Italy and Spain, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the volume in 2010.

Iran is the second largest oil producer among members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. It produces and exports 3.58 million barrels of crude per day.

The oil embargo is the latest sanction imposed on Iran by Western countries, including the U.S., in a bid to force it to stop its nuclear program. The embargo aims to cut Tehran’s earnings from oil exports, where it sources funding for its nuclear program.

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