Istanbul - (AFP) - Turkey has called for the "lifting of sanctions" on Venezuela and Iran to counter the rise in oil prices linked to the war in Ukraine.

"The whole world needs oil and natural gas from Venezuela... On the other hand, there is an embargo on Iranian oil," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

The Turkish minister added, "If you want to reduce prices, lift these sanctions and cancel the embargo measures on these two countries, which will condemn the markets."

The two allied oil producers are subject to heavy sanctions imposed by the United States.

Without naming Washington, Cavusoglu denounced the United States' reaction to the recent decision of the oil-exporting countries, led by Saudi Arabia, to cut production to support the price of black gold.

"We see that a country is threatening Saudi Arabia, and this intimidation is not fair," the Turkish minister said.

At the end of June, France called for a "diversification of supplies" towards Iran and Venezuela in order to limit the rise in fuel prices due to the war in Ukraine.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro responded on public television the next day, "President Macron! Venezuela is ready to welcome all French companies that want to come and produce oil and gas."