Iranian official defends energy deal with Turkey, says U.S. should not meddle

[TexasLawyer]

Source: AP

Iranian official defends energy deal with Turkey, says U.S. should not meddle
The Associated Press
Published: July 17, 2007

ANKARA, Turkey: An Iranian diplomat on Tuesday defended an agreement with Turkey to ship natural gas from Iran and Turkmenistan to European markets and called on the United States not to meddle in the region's affairs.

Turkey and Iran last week agreed on a preliminary deal to build two separate pipelines to ship natural gas from the fields in Iran and neighboring Turkmenistan via Turkish territory.

The United States — a close ally of Turkey — on Monday criticized the timing of the deal and said Iran was not a reliable partner. Washington, which fears Iran's nuclear ambitions are a threat to peace, wants to isolate Iran internationally.

"The agreement is not only to the benefit of Iran and Turkey, it is to the benefit of regional countries also," Ahmad Noorani, the diplomat, told reporters in Ankara. "European nations will also reap the benefits of this agreement." Asked to comment on U.S. objections, Noorani said "this country's policies in the region are not positive or constructive."

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Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/17/europe/EU-FIN-Turkey-Iran-Gas-Pipeline.php

[Drum]

1. "this country's policies in the region are not positive or constructive."

repeating just for emphasis.

[sutz12]

2. How dare they make a deal and not give us a piece of the action.

:sarcasm: Or maybe not. :shrug:

[John Q. Citizen]

3. Da boss ain't gonna like not getting his slice...