Italy joins IEA oil reserve release with 9 million barrels

ROME, March 12 (Reuters) - Italy will contribute with 9 million barrels to a coordinated release of strategic oil reserves, joining other International Energy Agency members, a government source said on Thursday.

Asked about the timing, the source said "availability was immediate."

The IEA recommended on Wednesday the release of 400 million barrels of oil, the largest such move in its history, to try to restrain soaring crude prices amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.