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China Sells Gas to Iran Despite US Pressure

Provides 1/3 of its fuel imports

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 23, 2009 9:13 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Chinese state oil companies began selling gasoline to Iran this month and now provide 30,000 to 40,000 barrels a day, or as much as a third of the country's imports. The development comes despite US-led attempts to block gas shipments to Iran, which has seen oil giants BP and Reliance end sales. Iran is one of the world's largest oil producers, but its refineries are in poor shape and generous government subsidies keep demand sky-high.

As the Financial Times reports, the Chinese companies do not sell gas directly to Iran but operate through intermediaries. The sales are not illegal, since fuel is not on the list of sanctioned imports. The White House said yesterday that President Obama was "forceful" on the subject of Iran at his meeting in New York with his counterpart Hu Jintao. But a Chinese official said that the country's businesses "conduct normal trade relations with Iran, strictly speaking within the relevant UN resolutions."

Iranians pump gas at a station in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, May 22, 2007.
Iranians pump gas at a station in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, May 22, 2007.   (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
An Iranian man pumps gas as his family sit in the car, at a station in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, May 22, 2007.
An Iranian man pumps gas as his family sit in the car, at a station in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, May 22, 2007.   (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Timinator2K
Sep 23, 2009 5:43 AM CDT
We can make forceful noises...which, as I recall correctly, counts the same as action in the liberal playbook. Actually, its quite the reverse...we go sour on them, THEY are totally phucked 10 ways to Sunday, even worse than us.
Derni
Sep 23, 2009 5:16 AM CDT
They may own us on paper and they may make lots of products sold in Ameica-but when all is said and done they will be at our doorstep for water and food-so be prepared.
Doctor-Zaius
Sep 23, 2009 2:32 AM CDT
I agree.
World • Money

 
China • Iran • Barack Obama • oil • sanctions • Hu Jintao • Chinese imports • gasoline

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