Shell increases oil trade with Iran – despite sanctions

[Newsjock]

Source: The Guardian

Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, paid the state-owned Iranian oil company at least $1.5bn (£0.94bn) for crude oil this summer, increasing its business with Tehran as the international community implemented some of the toughest sanctions yet aimed at constricting the Islamic republic's economy and its lifeline oil business.

Sensitive trading documents seen by the Guardian show the UK-registered company stepped up its orders of Iranian oil at a time when other major buyers, including BP and Reliance Industries, India's largest conglomerate, halted orders amid impending trade sanctions aimed at curbing Tehran's perceived desire to acquire nuclear weapons.

Shell is not accused of acting illegally because the sanctions – enforced by the US, UN and EU – stopped short of banning the import of Iranian oil. But its trades with the state-owned oil company, a major contributor to the finances of a government which has made its nuclear programme a priority, are likely to expose Shell to growing political pressure.

... Shell would not comment on the trades but insisted it is doing nothing illegal. "We do not comment on our trading activities but would underline that we continue to comply with all legislation," a spokesman said.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/27/shell-buys-more-oil-iran

[sakabatou]

1. Boycot Shell?

[L0oniX]

2. Heheh Shell thumbs its nose at the US and will get away with it.

Do ya see who is part of what is really controlling this country now?

[KT2000]

3. just like BP

yes - this is the United States of Corporate America

[hughee99]

4. Do you mean the European Corporate Union?

This is a British/Dutch company.

[KT2000]

5. Yes - bad example

but I have been pondering the distinction between America and its corporations. I believe they are in control here.

[Nihil]

6. And so they should.

> Heheh Shell thumbs its nose at the US and will get away with it.

How about the US stops trying to force the rest of the world to
join in with its hypocritical bullying, scaremongering and endless
hunger for bloodshed?


In case you missed it, Shell are not an American company and (from the
OP article):
>> No sanction decided so far by the EU is relevant to importing crude
>> oil from Iran

... so "thumbing their nose" is an entirely appropriate response.

:shrug:


> Do ya see who is part of what is really controlling this country now?

I doubt that most people do - if they did start to notice, the denial
would set in.

[Prometheus Bound]

7. Smart move.