Iran gives decision deadline to European oil firms pressed by U.S.
NICOSIA Ñ Iran has given Western energy majors 45 days to decide
whether they would participate in a major program.
The Teheran regime has relayed the 45-day deadline to Europe's Royal
Dutch Shell and Repsol for a reply on whether they would develop the South
Pars natural gas project. Shell and Repsol, under U.S. pressure, have
delayed for more than a year a decision to implement an agreement to develop
Phases 13 and 14 of South Pars.
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"We told them if they did not come to a conclusion and announce their
decision before the specified deadline, we will proceed with other
applicants," National Iranian Oil Co. director Seifollah Jashnsaz said.
Jashnsaz told the Iranian semi-official Fars News Agency that Teheran
was prepared to terminate its agreements with companies that hesitated to
invest in Iran. He cited Japan's Inpex Co., which failed to implement its
agreement to develop the Azadegan energy field.
