Total turns from Iran
"Our goal is to aim Iran where it hurts most." The words are clear, crisp and sharp. The Democratic majority leader Harry Reid's Senate on Monday spoke uncompromisingly after both houses of Congress last Thursday adopted sanctions against Iran, aimed at forcing the country to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
This series of steps that must still be signed by President Barack Obama seeks to reduce the supply of gasoline to Iran.It involves companies or their affiliates doing business with the country providing refined petroleum products or helping to develop refining capacity.
Christophe de Margerie warned
Thus, Total said, speaking through his spokesman Monday that the suspension of deliveries of petroleum products to Iran, confirming information the website of the Financial Times Sunday. Total joins BP and Royal Dutch Shell in the list of petroleum companies halting oil sales to Iran cash till payday. Last April, Christophe de Margerie, Total's then CEO had said his group would stop sales to Iran if the U.S. legislation penalizing companies providing Teheran in petroleum products was adopted.
The group chaired by Christophe de Margerie declined to say more, including specifying the date of termination of deliveries nor the volumes of oil involved According to a source close to the oil group, it would be "marginal quantities" . To believe the traders interviewed by the Financial Times, shipments have been stopped "about a month ago.
Fourth largest crude producer, Iran lacks refinery on its national soil, and thus depends heavily on imports for its supply of gasoline and refined products.
At the Paris Stock Exchange, Total closed up 0.66% to 38.13 euros in a market up 1.61% to 3576 points.
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