France, Russia join Iran’s oil costumers

TEHRAN, Oct. 25 (MNA) – Referring to resumption of talks with France’s Total and Russia’s Lukoil, NIOC official has announced the preliminary agreement to sell oil to these two giant companies. The new round of talks between the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and France’s Total as well as Russia’s Lukoil has started with the aim of signing new contracts for sales of crude oil during the post-sanction era. Executive Director for International Affairs Seyed Mohsen Ghamsari confirmed the new round of talks with the two oil companies and said, “selling crude has been the main focus of the discussions.” Stressing that various negotiations have been done with major oil companies in the world to sign new oil contracts, Ghamsari evaluated the course of talks with Total and Lukoil as satisfactory and said the preliminary agreement for the sale of crude oil has been made with the two companies.” The official had earlier referred to Japan’s tendency to increase oil imports from Iran and said Iran is seeking 10 percent of Japan’s oil market. Meanwhile, speaking at the Oil and Energy Conference earlier this week in Tehran, Total’s Managing Director of Commercial Excellence and Business Development in Southeast Asia, North Asia and Pacific Steve Mitchellhad had announced France’s readiness to return to Iran’s oil industry; “Total is ready to provide Iran’s oil industry with the required finance and technology,” he noted. Bijan Zanganeh, Iran’s Oil Minister, had earlier met and talked with the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius in Tehran and deemed Total as a leading French company in the field of oil extraction; “a new chapter will begin in cooperation with France’s total to develop Iran’s oil fields,” he had emphasized during the meeting.