TEHRAN. June 5: Iranians today braced themselves for the effects of a US trade embargo due to come into force tomorrow, despite deflant official assurances that the country would easily ride the storm, reports AFP.

Iranian leaders shrugged off the embargo imposed by US President Bill Clinton following his charge! that Iran is the world's main supporter of terrorism and is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, reports AFP.

Numerous Iranian and foreign experts, however' did not share the official optimism.

They said the first effect of the embargo would be a halt to all purchases of Iranian ojl by American companies, who buy 600.000 barrels per day — a quarter of the country's crude oil exports — worth 3.5 billion dollars in 1994.

President All Akbar Hasherpi Rafsanjani said Iran would have no trouble finding new clients for the oil. "Iran has now worries about the effects of the embargo." he proclaimed repeatedly during the past few weeks.

However, even Gholamreza

Aghazadeh. the country's oil minister, admitted to western Journalists that it would take time to make the transition and that Iran was In danger of losing money during the changeover.

Last week the Iranian press illustrated the difficulties facing the country when It reported that Thailand had refused to increase Its purchases of 20.000 barrels per day of Iranian crude.

Iranian concern was further reflected when Aghazadeh warned OPEC countries against

trying to profit from his country's problems by increasing ■ their own production.

The more serious problems for the Iranian petroleum industry and the economy, however. will come in the medium term, experts warned today.

"Not Iranian oil equipment is American." said on expert.

Last week Ghorban All Dorri ' Nafafabadi, Chairman of the Parliamentary Budget Committee. told the daily newspaper Ressalat Tha the Embargo -would cut oil revenues.

It is a sobering prospect for the country, which is already deeply embroiled in an economic and financial crisis, facing difficulties paying back its 35-blllion-dollar short and medium term debt.

The embargo also threatens other sectors of the economy: The domestic gas distribution network, for example, uses American compressors, an expert said. .

Iran air will face enormous difficulties maintaining Its ageing fleet of Boeings and even its European-made airbuses, which use American engines and computers. Western aviation experts said.