Iran
to sign oil deal with China: official
AFP
TEHRAN
Petroleumworld.com
02 26 06
Tehran
expects to sign major energy export deals with a delegation from
Beijing "soon", an official said Saturday, a move that
may seal China's support for Iran's nuclear programme at the UN
Security Council.
"A delegation led by the Chinese head of the national development
and reform commission, Ma Kai, will be soon in Tehran to sign
agreements related to exports of big oil consignments to China,"
deputy foreign minister Mehdi Safari was quoted as saying by state
television Saturday.
The International Atomic Energy Agency earlier this month reported
Iran to the UN over its controversial nuclear programme, a move
which may lead to a sanctions resolution being drawn up by the
Security Council, where China has the right of veto.
Iran has restarted small-scale enrichment of uranium despite international
efforts to stop it. The West suspects Iran is trying to develop
a nuclear bomb, something Tehran denies.
The UN Security Council is expected to debate the issue in March.
In October 2004, Iran and China signed a memorandum of understanding
for exports of 250 million tons of liquefied national gas (LNG)
over 25 years.
That arrangement could be worth more than 100 billion dollars.
It also envisages a share in the development of an Iranian onshore
oilfield, Yadavaran.
The preliminary agreement expired in January and neither of the
sides have indicated how the negotiations would continue.
AFP
02 25 06
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© 2006 AFP. All rights reserved
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