US embargo on Iranian oil 'may backfire'

Washington's move is expected to face pushback from major importers

The initial 180-day waivers that the United States granted to buyers of Iranian oil expired on Thursday. Experts argued that Washington's intention to cut off Iranian oil exports completely might backfire both at home and abroad, Xinhua News Agency said in an analysis.

The White House announced on April 22 the US sanctions would be reimposed on all countries that import oil from Iran from Thursday on.