Posted on 09/07/2005 12:34:40 PM PDT by humint
TEHRAN - Iran's oil ministry on Wednesday fiercely denied reports it had offered oil to the United States as aid for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, asserting that US policies and sanctions made such a gesture impossible. "Moves by the United States to establish economic sanctions and other pressure against the Islamic Republic of Iran are the main barriers to Iranian aid," said Iran's envoy to the oil cartel OPEC, Hossein Kazempour-Ardebili. "If the US removes these sanctions, the barriers will be removed too. If US economic sanctions against Iran did not exist, and if there were no barrier for Iran's crude oil to enter the US market, we could supply between 10 million and 20 million barrels of oil as aid," he told the ministry's Shana news service.
But such talk, he insisted, was purely theoretical -- and not a concrete offer from Iran as had been reported by some media. "It is not clear why foreign agencies have reported this news about Iran offering oil relief to the US, because any decision on such matters rests with the parliament," he asserted. Washington and Tehran cut off diplomatic ties in 1981 after Islamist students stormed the US embassy in the Iranian capital and held 52 staff hostages for 444 days. A 1996 US law threatens sanctions on both American and foreign companies investing more than 40 million dollars in Iran's energy sector. The United States has been pushing for additional sanctions to be slapped on Tehran amid accusations the country is seeking nuclear weapons. But Washington extended a helping hand when a massive earthquake hit the southern Iranian town of Bam killing more than 31,000 people in 2003.
BAM earthquake relief...
Our relations with Tehran are not about oil! Our sanctions are a function of their support for terrorism, human rights abuses and flouting international law with regard to their nuclear program. The offer to help Iran become a democracy is on the table... Today, Tehran is not in a position to help the U.S. do anything.
indian givers!
MESSAGE TO IRAN: Justice shall come to you, too.
MESSAGE TO IRAN: Justice shall come to you, too.
There is no oil for the infidels.....
Actually Persian takers.
Even the Indians, Afghans and Bangladeshi are giving what they can. The usual axis of weasels are doing exactly what we expected - nothing.
There is no oil for the infidels.....
He is not Iranian!!!
Now we don't know that. Sheesh. He could be Canadian for all we know. Not exactly on good terms with the truth, that boy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.