Trump should let US oil firms into Iran, minister says

Americans still barred from Iran, but Tehran 'ready to negotiate about development of resources'

By AP 17 October 2017, 2:48 pm
This photo from March 12, 2017, shows an Iranian laborer walking the platform of the oil facility in the Khark Island, on the shore of the Gulf. (AFP/Atta Kenar)

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s oil minister said Tuesday that US President Donald Trump should allow American oil firms to do business in the Islamic Republic.

Bijan Zanganeh’s comments came as Americans and US companies are still barred from directly doing business with Iran. That’s even with the 2015 nuclear deal being in place.

Iran’s Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh talks to journalists as he arrives at a hotel in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 (photo credit: AP Photo/Hans Punz)

Zanganeh was quoted as saying: “If they want to, we are ready to negotiate with American companies about development of oil and gas resources.”

His remarks were reported by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.

He added: “We have not closed doors” to American companies.

Trump last week refused to re-certify Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal with world powers, and criticized Europeans for their participation in Iran’s energy projects. French oil giant Total SA is among those European companies who have entered the Iranian market following the deal.

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