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Europe’s oil firms resist US over Iran

Sat Oct 2, 2010 9:44AM

European oil giants are resisting US pressure to stop buying Iranian crude oil, saying they will leave the country only when their contracts expire.

US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said last Thursday that France’s Total, Norway’s Statoil, Italy’s ENI and Royal Dutch Shell would suspend dealings with Iran voluntarily, in support of US-engineered sanctions against Iran over its nuclear work.

All four firms, however, said on Friday they would maintain dealings with Iran.

Moreover, France’s Total announced Friday that it was still purchasing Iranian crude while Royal Dutch Shell noted that it was not illegal to take delivery of Iranian crude under the latest United Nations sanctions, Reuters reported.

Norway’s Statoil, meanwhile, stated that it was providing Tehran with technical assistance.

Italy’s ENI also said it would exit Iran only when existing deals expire.

Following US-engineered UN sanctions against Iran in June, the United States and the European Union moved to impose additional unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

AR/MB/MGH

SOURCE ARTICLE

WARNING ABOUT THE VERACITY OF THE ABOVE ARTICLE.

Extract from a Sunday Times article...

It is called Press TV, is funded by the Iranian regime, and opponents say that from its nondescript offices off Hanger Lane in northwest London the 24-hour news station is beaming pro-Tehran propaganda into homes across Britain.

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