BP, Royalutch Shell ready to continue activity in Iran
Tehran, Sept 3, IRNA -- British Petroleum (BP) and Anglo-Dutch conglomerate, Royal/Dutch Shell, will continue activity in Iran despite closure of British Embassy in Tehran as a result of a shooting incident on Tuesday.
Informed sources say BP and Royal/Dutch Shell, two well-credited oil companies that started activity in Iran in recent years, would go on with their mission despite temporary closure of British Embassy in Tehran. The embassy was closed late Wednesday morning until further notice after being hit by gunfire from two motorcyclists.
Iranian police is investigating the case. BP has started activity in Iran since 1997 after setting up its representative office and is now a major purchaser of the country`s crude oil and oil derivatives.
The company is one of the two winners of a tender for development of Bangestan oil field, still awaiting National Iranian Oil Company`s (NIOC) decision to announce it as the final winner.
BP has also taken part in the tender for development of phase 11 of South Pars gas field and is currently cooperating with the NIOC to implement the first LNG project in Iran. The company is also cooperating with the NIOC and other international companies in the Output Expansion Consortium.
Meanwhile, Shell is busy with the project for development of Sorush and Norouz oil fields and is keen to contribute to development of phases 13 and 14 of South Pars gas field as well as implementation of the LNG projects in Iran.
The company signed a contract with Iran`s Oil Industry Research Center early this year for research and exploratory operations. Negotiations are underway between the Iranian party and the two British companies for implementation of GTL projects.
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=17780&NewsKind=Current%20AffairsTimeline: UK-Iran relations
BBC News Online looks at the chequered history of Britain-Iranian ties in recent decades.
1951: The Iranian Government nationalises the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, triggering a dispute with Britain.
1953: Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq is deposed in a coup backed by Britain and the US.
1979: Britain closes its embassy in Tehran following the Islamic revolution, and transfers its diplomats to a British interests section at the Swedish embassy.
1988: The British embassy in Tehran re-opens.
February 1989: Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issues a religious edict (fatwa) ordering Muslims to kill British author Salman Rushdie, accused of blasphemy against Islam. Diplomatic ties with London are broken off.
September 1990: Relations are restored, but they are limited to the level of charge d'affaires.
May 1997: Mohammad Khatami, a reformer, becomes Iranian president, leading to efforts to normalise ties between the two countries.
September 1998: Relations with Britain are upgraded to ambassador level, after the Khatami government agrees to stop encouraging Muslims to carry out the death sentence against Salman Rushdie.
January 2000: Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi visits London.
September 2001: Jack Straw becomes the first UK foreign secretary to travel to Iran since 1979 - as part of efforts to forge a coalition against the Taleban in Afghanistan.
February 2002: Britain's improving relations with Iran suffer a major setback when Tehran rejects David Reddaway as London's new ambassador, calling him a spy.
June 2003: The UK urges Iran to open up its nuclear sites to tougher inspections, amid growing international concern that Tehran might be developing nuclear weapons.
21 August: The UK authorities arrest Iranian diplomat Hade Soleimanpour, who is wanted by Argentina on terror charges, triggering a fresh row. Tehran demands the immediate release of Mr Soleimanpour and an apology from the British.
27 August : Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Ahani travels to London to meet Jack Straw, who says the cannot interfere with a judicial matter. Tehran says it hopes the dispute will not come to the withdrawal of ambassadors, but adds that all legal and diplomatic options are open.
3 September: Iran recalls its ambassador to London "for consultations" and shots are fired at the UK embassy in Tehran.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3077540.stm