Reuters: Iran will carry out a multibillion dollar gas project without Total if the French oil major bows to political pressure to stay away from the project, the country’s oil minister said on Wednesday.
TEHRAN, Sept 26 (Reuters) – Iran will carry out a multibillion dollar gas project without Total if the French oil major bows to political pressure to stay away from the project, the country’s oil minister said on Wednesday.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy called earlier this week for tougher international sanctions against Iran’s nuclear work and warned Total and gas firm Gaz de France to refrain from investing in Iran.
“We have a message for Sarkozy,” said caretaker Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari. “If Total does not come, the powerful hands of Iranians will carry out Pars LNG.”
Total is in negotiations with Iran for building the country’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal. The deal was signed in February 2004 and had been due to start up in 2009, but talks on the price are still ongoing.
