U.S. pressures energy firms, banks away from Iran

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. pressures energy firms, banks away from Iran

By Peg Mackey and Simon Webb
Mon May 28, 10:25 AM ET

TEHRAN/DUBAI (Reuters) - The United States is piling pressure
on European banks and energy firms to avoid doing business with
Iran, sending a blunt message that reputations are at stake if
they do so, officials and analysts said on Monday.

Washington, leading efforts to isolate the Islamic Republic over
its atomic program, has slapped sanctions on two Iranian banks.
United Nations sanctions have targeted one.

But U.S. arm-twisting may be having a stronger impact, with one
bank withdrawing finance for a major gas deal and oil majors
rethinking investment. A U.S. official warned multinationals in
March to steer clear of OPEC's second biggest producer.

-snip-

"The U.S. government is sending out letters to banks on plain
white paper with a clear message -- side with us or we'll make
it difficult for you to operate," said an Iranian executive who
wished to remain anonymous.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070528/pl_nm/iran_energy_pressure_dc

[Double T]

1. I'm sure bushco's full nelson diplomacy will work to solve the problems......

with Iran.