FACTBOX-Foreign companies stepping away from Iran

[demoleft]

Source: reuters

(Reuters) - Spain's largest oil company Repsol (REP.MC) has pulled out of a contract it won with Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) to develop part of the South Pars gas field in Iran, a spokesman said on Monday.

Here are some of the companies:

* Repsol (REP.MC) has pulled out of a contract it won with Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) to develop part of the South Pars gas field in Iran.]

-- Separately, French oil group Total (TOTF.PA) said it had suspended sales of refined products to Iran. It said in April would cease gasoline sales to Iran if the United States passed legislation to penalize fuel suppliers to Iran. Congress passed legislation last week.

* Italy's oil and gas major Eni (ENI.MI) is handing the operation of Darkhovin oilfield in Iran to local partners to avoid U.S. sanctions, Eni told U.S. authorities on April 29.

* Russian oil major LUKOIL (LKOH.MM) will cease gasoline sales to Iran, industry sources said on April 7, following a similar decision by Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) in March. LUKOIL had supplied some 250,000 to 500,000 barrels of gasoline to Iran every other month, traders said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE65R1O220100628

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about french Total, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/10437336.stm

in the meantime, iran announced that nuclear talks are postponed.

Iran postpones nuclear talks

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, has said that talks over his country's nuclear programme will be postponed until late August.

The current talks involve Tehran and the so-called "P5+1" countries - the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany.

Ahmadinejad also called for new negotiating partners and said more countries should be involved.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, the president said the negotiators should be asked whether they support Israel's right to nuclear weapons.

al jazeera, http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/06/2010628124311454616.html

[Demeter]

1. They've Been Warned to Clear Out for the Coming War

and to support more illegal economic sanctions--just like those that crippled Iraq's population.

[Soylent Brice]

3. i hope you are wrong. n/t

[Demeter]

4. Me, Too. But I'm Not Holding My Breath

[mbperrin]

5. I hope you are, too. But I doubt it.

These "old" wars are wearing out. Need a nice fresh new one to keep the spice corporate profits flowing!

[dipsydoodle]

2. Unlikely to deter the Chinese

.