Total denies report of US summons over Iran operations

AFP: French energy group Total denied on Tuesday that it had been summoned by the US Securities Exchange and the US Department of Justice to explain the group’s activities in Iran. PARIS, April 3, 2007 (AFP) – French energy group Total denied on Tuesday that it had been summoned by the US Securities Exchange and the US Department of Justice to explain the group’s activities in Iran.

Citing two separate sources, the online edition of French newspaper La Tribune claimed Tuesday that Total had received a summons on March 29.

Total chief executive Christophe de Margerie has already been targeted in a French corruption probe into a major gas deal signed by Total in Iran in 1997.

“Neither Total nor any of its executives have been summoned by the SEC or the Department of Justice,” a spokeswoman told AFP.

In Washington, the Department of Justice declined to comment on the press report.

The Total spokeswoman said that the company had stated in its 2004 annual report that the SEC was investigating the activities of energy companies in Iran, including those of Total.