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Iran offers U.S. 20 million barrels in exchange for a small favor
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, September 8, 2005
Iran has offered 20 million barrels of oil to the United
States.
Iranian officials said Teheran has pledged to deliver the oil if
Washington lifts trade sanctions from Iran. The sanctions were linked to
Iran's support for groups deemed terrorist as well as that country's missile
and nuclear programs.
A senior Iranian official, identified as Hossein Kazempour, was quoted
by Iranian state radio as saying that Teheran's offer would help U.S. oil
supplies amid the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Katrina has resulted in
a 10 percent reduction in U.S. refinery capacity.
"If U.S. sanctions are lifted, Iran is prepared to send that quantity of
oil to America," Kazempour said.
On Wednesday, the United States rejected the Iranian offer. Officials
said the administration did not intend to lift trade sanctions from Teheran.
"It's a conditional offer, so we don't deal with that," State Department
executive secretary Harry Thomas said.
Copyright © 2005 East West
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