Total SA

According to Total's 20-F filing with the SEC submitted in March 2022, "operational activities related to Iran were stopped in 2018 following the withdrawal of the U.S. from the JCPOA." However, the form also notes that the company "maintains a local representative office in Tehran with four employees solely for non-operational functions."

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As of September 21, 2021, Total remained on Florida SBA List of Continued Examination Companies with Petroleum Energy Activities in Iran. 

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As of July 1, 2021, Total is no longer identified by US state of Mississippi as a company engaged in investment activities in Iran's energy sector valued at $20,000,000 or more. 

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"French energy group Total is not considering returning to Iran for now due to uncertainty regarding sanctions on the country, Chief Financial Officer Jean-Pierre Sbraire told an analysts’ conference call on Thursday. Earlier this week, world powers and Iran sought to speed up efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear accord, as the United States reassured its Gulf Arab allies on the status of the talks." (Reuters, "French Energy Group Total Not Considering Returning To Iran For Now," 4/29/2021). 

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As of March 9, 2021, Total remained on the Florida SBA List of Continued Examination Companies with Petroleum Energy Activities in Iran. 

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As of July 2020, Total remains on the Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement In Iran because of oil-related investment of US $20 million since 1996. 

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In 2020, the U.S. state of Mississippi listed Total on its state lists of Companies Doing Business with the Iranian Petroleum/Natural Gas, Nuclear and Military Sectors, rendering it ineligible for investment and/or state contracting.

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"The company has been identified as proceeding with energy-related business opportunities in Iran. In a letter dated January 3, 2018 the company stated it continually monitors its activities to ensure full compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including international economic sanctions. In a press release dated May 16, 2018, following announcement of the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPoA and planned re-imposition of sanctions, the company stated it is withdrawing from business activities in Iran. Total S.A. announced that it has become Total SE following its registration with the Trade and Companies Register of Nanterre as a European Company, which occurred on July 16, 2020. CalPERS moved the company into “monitor” status in 2018. CalPERS has maintained the company in “monitor” status for 2020. CalPERS continues to monitor the company for possible changes in status relevant to the Act."

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As of October 2019, Total remains on the Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement In Iran because of oil-related investment of US $20 million since 1996. 

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"Tehran had hoped the Chinese state-run company would replace France’s Total SA, which left the project last year after the U.S. reinstated sanctions on Iran." (Wall Street Journal, "China Pulls Out of Giant Iranian Gas Project," 10/6/2019).
 

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As of August 1, 2019, Total Gabon S.A., Total Mory Maroc SA, Total Petrochemicals & Refining SA and Total Petroleum Ghana Ltd, were removed from the Ohio list of Iran Sudan scrutinized companies.

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Total is listed on the June 2019 Alaska Retirement Management Board, Companies Doing Material Business with Iran list.

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Total is listed on the March 2019 Alaska Retirement Management Board, Companies Doing Material Business with Iran list and the Rhode Island scrutinized companies list: Iran. 

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As of June 30, 2018 Iowa Board of Regents listed Total on its Iran divestment Scrutinized companies list. 

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Total SA had previously been removed from the Iran-related securities list after ceasing operations in Iran. In 2016, CalSTRS designated Total SA as “Being Monitored” and maintained that designation in 2017. In 2018, CalSTRS removed Total SA after the company decided not to proceed with projects in Iran, citing U.S. sanction issues.

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"As a consequence and as already explained before, Total will not be in a position to continue the SP11 project and will have to unwind all related operations before 4 November 2018 unless Total is granted a specific project waiver by the US authorities with the support of the French and European authorities. This project waiver should include protection of the Company from any secondary sanction as per US legislation." (5/16/2018).

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"Total SA said it will not risk investing in Iran following the return of U.S. sanctions, unless it can secure a waiver. Continuing to do business in Iran would be too great a risk as the company has large operations in the U.S. and depends on the country’s banks for financing its operations, Total said in a statement Wednesday. So the French energy giant won’t commit any more funds to Iran’s South Pars 11 project, in which it took a controlling stake last year." (May 16, 2018).

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European oil companies could be particularly hit - French company Total signed a $5bn deal with Iran after the agreement, while BP has a joint venture to operate the Rhum gas field with Iran's state oil company. (May 11, 2018)

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In 2017 the U.S. state of Alaska, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee listed Total on its list of companies doing material business with Iran rendering Total ineligible for investment and/or state contracting.

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In 2017 the U.S. State of California identified Total as a company under review for proceeding with energy-related business opportunities in Iran.

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In 2017 the U.S. state of Florida listed Total on its continued examination list of companies with petroleum energy activities in Iran.

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In 2018 the U.S. state of Iowa, Ohio listed Total as an Iran restricted company rendering Total ineligible for investment and/or state contracting. 

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"In recent weeks, Total, the French energy giant, has been sending small amounts of euros from banks in Europe to Tehran. It was the corporate equivalent of setting up a direct deposit. Total wanted to test the banking system and learn how difficult it was to make day-to-day transactions in Iran. As it considers investing in Iran, the company is moving cautiously. It has assigned a full-time compliance officer to the country to ensure it doesn't run afoul of any rules: It can't allow any Americans to work on its projects there, and has to be careful to avoid sanctioned Iranians. Like many international oil players, Total has been lured by the promise of a large and lucrative market with vast energy reserves. But the changing geopolitical landscape has made companies wary of the sanctions and restrictionsas tied to working there." (New York Times, "Even Bold Foreign Investors Tiptoe In Iran," 3/31/2017).

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"Total is seeking a 50 percent stake in a $4 billion project in Iran's giant South Pars gas field, the French energy firm said in a regulatory filing on Friday detailing talks held with Iranian officials on several projects in 2016. Total signed a preliminary deal for the South Pars project last year, becoming the first Western oil major to sign an energy agreement after the European Union and the United States eased sanctions as part of a pact to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions. In a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Total said the South Pars 11 project would require investment of about $4 billion, with the French firm financing 50.1 percent with equity contributions and payments in non-U.S. currency. If finalised, Total would operate the project with a 50.1 percent stake, China's CNPC would own 30 percent through one of its subsidiaries and Iran's Petropars would have 19.9 percent." (Reuters, "France's Total Seeks Stake In $4 Billion Iranian Gas Field Project," 3/17/2017).

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In 2017, Total was re-added to the Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement in Iran after new involvement in Iran was identified. 

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"Iran's oil minister has criticised French oil company Total for its decision to delay signing a contract to develop a gas field in southern Iran, saying that the reasons given by Total's chief executive were "unacceptable" to Tehran. Total was the first Western energy company to sign a major deal with Tehran since the lifting of international sanctions with its South Pars 11 project in the Gulf to develop a part of the world's largest gas field that Iran shares with Qatar. Total's chief executive, Patrick Pouyanne, said last week that it aimed to make a final investment decision on the $2 billion project by the summer, but the decision hinges on the renewal of U.S. sanctions waivers. "I don't know why Total has said so," Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying by Mehr news agency on Wednesday. "It's been included in the contract that we all follow European Union's policies. Their comments are unacceptable," he added. U.S. President Donald Trump has called into doubt the Western powers' deal with Iran over its nuclear technology development programme and, responding to an Iran's ballistic missile test last month, imposed fresh sanctions on Tehran. The South Pars 11 project aims to produce 1.8 billion cubic feet a day of gas, equivalent to 370,000 barrels of oil. The produced gas will be fed into Iran's gas network." (Reuters, "Iran Berates Total for Delaying Gas Field Development Deal," 2/15/2017).

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"French oil major Total plans to make a final investment decision on a $2 billion gas project in Iran by the summer, but the decision hinges on the renewal of U.S. sanctions waivers, the company's chief executive said on Thursday. Total was the first Western energy company to sign a major deal with Tehran since the lifting of international sanctions against Iran. Its project aims to develop South Pars 11, which is part of the world's largest gas field. Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne said South Pars 11 will be among a couple of projects to be approved by the company to start by the summer, if nothing is modified with regards to the sanctions." (Reuters, "Major Total Says Final Investment decision on Iran Project Depends on Renewal of U.S. Waivers," 2/9/2017).

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In 2016 and 2017 Tennessee used the South Carolina list of "Entities Ineligible to Contract with the State of South Carolina or any Political Subdivision of the State per the Iran Divestment Act of 2014, S.C. Code Ann." as its list of persons it determines engage in investment activities in Iran. Total was included on this list in 2016 and 2017. "Inclusion on this list would make a person ineligible to contract with the state of Tennessee, if a person ceases its engagement in investment activities in Iran, it may be removed from the list."

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Iran’s oil minister said Total will equip Phase 11 of the country’s South Pars gas field with a pressure booster station to regularly pomp 2 billion cubic feet of gas per day for nearly 20 years as part of a deal between Tehran and the French energy giant. Speaking to Tasnim on Monday, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said, “Total will accept the responsibility to install a pressure booster station in Phase 11 to fix its output at 2 billion cubic feet per day for 15 to 20 years”. Earlier, Iran and Total signed an agreement over the development of South Pars Phase 11. The deal involves a consortium led by Total, which also includes the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Iran's Petropars. (Tasnim News Energy,  "Total to Install Pressure Booster Station at South Pars Phase 11: Iran's Oil Minister," 12/19/2016).

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"Total SA of France on Wednesday is also negotiating an investment in its second big Iranian energy development, the spokeswoman told The Wall Street Journal. The oil ministry initially said Total would be part of Wednesday’s announcement." (The Wall Street Journal, "Shell Expected to Sign Iran Oil Deal Despite Uncertainty Over Trump," 12/7/2016).

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In the middle of the U.S. presidential election Tuesday, Iran announced a $4.8 billion deal with French oil company Total SA — the first of its kind since the international community lifted economic sanctions on Iran in January as part of the nuclear deal. But the election victory by Donald Trump — who lambasted the Iran accord on the campaign trail and hinted he’d like to reimpose sanctions — may dissuade other energy companies from following Total’s path... Trump’s election threatens to nip Iran’s energy revival in the bud, and make it even harder for U.S. firms to elbow their way into a market desperate for Western capital and technology. “With the election of Trump, it’s even less likely,” Matthew Reed, vice president at consultancy Foreign Reports, told Foreign Policy... A Trump administration could well reinstate some or all of the economic sanctions that would limit Western firms’ ability to do business there, Reed warned. The Total deal is “the icebreaker ,but caution still rules the day,” he said. “I can’t say if it’s too late to derail the Total deal, but [Treasury] guidelines could change during a Trump administration, and new sanctions can’t be ruled out.” (Foreign Policy, "With the Trump Win, Will Iran's First Post-Sanctions Energy Deal Be Its Last?" 11/9/2016).

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"The election of Donald Trump as the President of the United States will not have an impact on the investments of French oil and gas company Total in Iran, the firm's head of gas, renewables and power said on Wednesday. Philippe Sauquet told journalist on the sidelines of an energy summit in Paris that a heads of agreement signed by Total earlier this week would not be impacted by the Trump's election... "We have always said that we are interested in returning to Iran on condition that the investments that are proposed to us are sufficiently attractive and knowing that for us, it was out of the question to do anything that would contravene international rules," Sauquet told reporters. "The election that took place in the United States does not change anything," Sauquet said." (Reuters, "Total says Trump's election will not have an impact on Iran gas deal," 11/9/2016).

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"France's Total has signed a deal with Iran to further develop its part of the world's largest gas field, becoming the first western energy company to sign a major deal with Tehran since the lifting of international sanctions earlier this year. Total confirmed on Tuesday it had signed a heads of agreement with National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for the Phase 11 development of South Pars in the Gulf, which extends into Qatari waters where it is known as the North field. The SP11 project will progress in two stages, the first costing an estimated $2 billion, Total said. The produced gas will be fed into Iran's gas network. The French company has already played a key role in Iran's energy industry, including the development of phases 2 and 3 of South Pars in the 2000s, before pulling out of the country after international sanctions were imposed in 2010... Total said it would operate the SP11 project and have a 50.1 percent stake in it. Petropars, a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company, will have a 19.9 percent stake while state-China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) will have a 30 percent stake." (Reuters, "Total signs first post-sanctions Western energy deal with Iran," 11/8/2016).

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"French oil company Total SA said it would avoid U.S. sanctions on Iran by using its own euro-denominated cash to finance the first Western energy deal in the Islamic Republic since international restrictions over its nuclear program were lifted this year. “This confirms we have a capacity to work with the Iranian government and that there is reciprocal trust,” Total’s Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanné said Tuesday... Mr. Pouyanné said Total will avoid the remaining sanctions still applied on Iran by the U.S. by using its own cash to finance its share of the investment. The Iranian government will pay Total in gas condensates, which the company can then sell on the international markets, bypassing the Iranian financial system." (The Wall Street Journal, "Total to Finance Iran Project With Euros to Avoid U.S. Sanctions," 11/8/2016).

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"Iran is set to sign a preliminary deal with Total SA Tuesday to help develop an offshore gas field, the first under its new oil-contract framework with a foreign company, an oil-ministry official in Tehran said Monday. The agreement with the French oil giant is a key step toward the return of Western companies to the Islamic Republic’s giant fields, after a nuclear agreement with world powers ended international sanctions on its oil industry in January. The so-called “heads of agreement” to develop phase 11 of the giant South Pars gas field will also include China National Petroleum Corporation and Iran’s state-owned Petropars, and will represent an investment of $6 billion, a press official at the oil-ministry said." (The Wall Street Journal, "Iran to Sign $6 Billion Gas-Field Deal with Total, CNPC," 11/7/2016).

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"Iran continues its quest for new crude buyers, especially in Europe, but its loyal customer base will continue to hinge on countries like India and China, whose demand for Iranian crude has observed a steady rise this year. Iran has found interest for its crude in some unusual places in the past few months as it continues it diversify its list of buyers. Earlier this month it agreed to sell 1 million barrels of crude oil to Hungary via Croatia as it seeks to widen its post-sanctions customer base, which now includes cargoes sold to oil major BP, France's Total, Greece's Hellenic Petroleum, Spain's Repsol and Cepsa, Russia's Lukoil, Poland's Grupa Lotos, Portugal's Petrogal and Italy's Saras and Iplom. Iran said it has held talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina this week as it hopes to expand its list of crude oil export destinations. However, its shipments to Asia remain the pillar of its export market." (Platts, "Analysis: Iran eyes new crude oil buyers, Asia remains linchpin," 11/1/2016).

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"A new round of talks between Iran and UOP LLC Petroleum industry company of America has kicked off over investment and supply of new technologies. Association of Petrochemical Industry Corporations (APIC) announced that a fresh round of negotiations has begun between Iran’s petrochemical officials and three major American and European petrochemical companies with the main axes of talks being construction of new polymer units, knowledge and technology transfer as well as issuance of license for new petchem plans. On the sidelines of K Trade Fair 2016, the world's premier fair for the plastics and rubber industry in Germany, high ranking officials of Iran’s petrochemical industry held meetings with authorities of France’s Total and Air Liquide as well as America’s UOP, formerly known as Universal Oil Products." (Mehr News, "US petchem giant ready to return to Iran," 10/24/2016).

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"The country may tender the first field, the South Azadegan deposit, to international companies as early as November, NIOC Managing Director Kardor said. Total SA of France had been developing a technical program for development of the field after signing a data-sharing agreement with Iran earlier this year, Kardor said. NIOC signed 10 agreements giving foreign companies access to data on its fields with the aim of bringing in partners to boost output, he said. Total is also in the running to develop Iran's South Pars 11 gas development, Kardor said. A first oil development agreement with an international company could be signed by March for South Azadegan, he said." (Bloomberg News, "Iran Boosting Oil Production in Possible Hitch to OPEC Deal," 10/17/2016).

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In 2014 Total was removed from Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement In Iran because it was determined the companies business was in the past. 
 

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"Total SA faces a trial in France on allegations it made illegal payments to an Iranian official for oil and gas contracts, according to prosecutors. The biggest French company by market value stands charged with 'corruption of foreign public officials,' a spokeswoman in the Paris prosecutors' office said, asking not to be named because of office policy. Two intermediaries will also be tried for alleged complicity, she said. A date has yet to be set. The decision to go to trial, by a French judge days before former Chief Executive Officer Christophe de Margerie died in a plane crash last month, follows Total's agreement in May 2013 to pay $398 million to settle U.S. allegations. It also resolved related claims with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission... The prosecutor recommended on the day of the company's U.S. settlement that Total, de Margerie and two others stand trial. Total paid $60 million in bribes to an Iranian official from 1995 to 2004 to obtain rights in three oil and gas fields, including South Pars, according to a statement of facts in the deferred-prosecution agreement. Total admitted to the conduct described in the statement of facts, according to the agreement, which was signed by Peter Herbel, Total's general counsel." (Bloomberg, "Total Faces French Trial on Iran-Corruption Claim After U.S Deal," 11/26/14)

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"Iran's oil minister met BP PLC and Total SA on Wednesday, in a sign of renewed interest for the country's oil sector. International sanctions ban Western oil companies from entering Iran's oil fields. Earlier this week, Tehran failed to reach a final nuclear agreement with world powers, which could have eased such restrictions. Speaking to reporters, Iranian oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said he met representatives of BP PLC--the first such reported meeting with the British oil giant--and France's Total SA to discuss a possible entry in the country. Total, which was represented by new Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanne, and BP have both previously said they won't work in Iran unless sanctions are lifted. Separately, Mr Zanganeh also met Vagit Alekperov, president of Russian oil giant Lukoil. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Alekperov said that 'as soon as sanctions [are] lifted, we are hoping [to] enter' the country. He also said Lukoil would like to participate in bidding round for new oil contracts which is due early next year, but which has been postponed several times." (Dow Jones, "Iranian Oil Minister Meets With BP, Total and Lukoil," 11/26/14)

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"At least five companies with U.S. government contracts were in Tehran last week to attend the Iran Oil Show, a several day conference that enables international corporations to hobnob with top Iranian officials and plan for a full return to Tehran’s lucrative energy market, according to an analysis of the 600 companies that attended the oil expo. At least 20 of the companies in attendance at the oil show maintain a U.S. presence or have contracts with the U.S. government, eliciting concern from watchdog groups that these companies could be helping Iran breach U.S. sanctions…The overwhelming attendance at this year’s Iran Oil Show—a reported 300 percent increase over past years—serves as another sign that the Obama administration’s recent rollback in sanctions on Iran has been viewed as a green light to reenter the Iranian marketplace…'It is a telling indication of the weakening of the international sanctions regime when firms with U.S. presence and U.S. government contracts openly publicize their attendance at an exhibition for Iran’s most heavily sanctioned sector,' said Matan Shamir, research director for the advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which has been closely tracking and publicly admonishing those companies seeking to do business with Iran. Energy and electrical giant Siemens, which maintains a large U.S. presence, and the French energy companyTotal, which also has a large U.S. presence, were both reportedly in attendance. Siemens has received more than $3 billion in government contracts with the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Pentagon, and DHS, among others. Total has been awarded more than $2 billion in contracts with the Pentagon, DHS, and the Treasury Department. Other government contractors that attended the Iran Oil Show include: the manufacturing firm Leoni, which has had around $82,000 in government contracts; the industrial firm Nexans, which has had more than $157,000 in contracts; and pump manufacturer Nikkiso, which has had more than $118,000 in contracts.” (Washington Free Beacon, “U.S. Government Contractors Attend Iran Oil Show,” 5/14/14)

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"Iran's annual oil and gas fair opens in Tehran on Tuesday, with 600 foreign companies seeking to position themselves for a return to large-scale operations if international sanctions are lifted…Regional representatives from France's Total and the German conglomerate Siemens are among 600 foreign companies registered for the International Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Refining Exhibition, according to government officials. The number is three times higher than in 2013, Nematollahi Akbar, a spokesman for Iran's Oil Ministry, told AFP, noting that 1,200 Iranian firms will attend, up 50 percent. ‘Total and Siemens will be represented by their regional officials and Chinese companies are present this year,’ Akbar said.” (AFP, “Iran tests foreign interest with oil fair,” 5/6/14)

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“Total SA (FP) Chief Executive Officer Christophe de Margerie defended a visit by a French trade delegation last week to Iran as a way for companies to gain a competitive edge should sanctions be lifted. ‘When it becomes legal to work in Iran and contractual terms are satisfactory, I don’t see why Total would deprive itself of the possibility to beat out its Anglo-Saxon competitors in Iran,’ de Margerie said today at a press conference. ‘We have the right to move, that’s not illegal.’ The U.S. has criticized the visit, during which more than 100 representatives of French businesses including oil producer Total met top Iranian trade officials in Tehran.”  (Bloomberg, “Total CEO Defends France's Trade Overtures to Iran,” 2/12/14)

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"A visit to Iran by a large French business delegation drew a stern warning from Washington that most US sanctions remain in place and will be enforced even against allies. The 116-strong French delegation, with representatives from major companies like Total, Lafarge and Peugeot, was the largest of its kind from Europe since a landmark nuclear deal reached with the major powers in November gave Iran limited relief from crippling US and EU sanctions. French employers' union vice president Thierry Courtaigne said the delegation, which arrived in Tehran Monday, wanted to assess the commercial opportunities opened up by the easing of Western sanctions…The French were given a warm welcome by Iranian leaders, who promised new measures to encourage foreign investment, particularly in its oil and gas sector. In a speech to them, Deputy Oil Minister Ali Majedi said Iran's latest five-year plan, running from 2010-2015, calls for $230 billion of investment in its petroleum industry, of which $150 billion would go to upstream activities, according to the official IRNA news agency. He said nearly all downstream projects, for refineries and distribution, would be offered on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) or build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) basis.” (AFP, “French business push in Iran draws US sanctions warning,” 2/4/14)

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“U.S. officials are fanning out across the globe, privately warning international executives not to commit too much as they re-engage with Iran during a temporary easing of sanctions…At a meeting at the U.S. Embassy in London this week, Peter Harrell, the U.S. State Department's deputy assistant secretary for threat finance and sanctions, met British and French executives—including representatives from Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Total SA and the aircraft-engine division of Rolls-Royce PLC—to make it clear that any business now allowed with Iran must be limited to the six-month window of the deal, according to people familiar with the matter. ’The message we got is that you can't sign any long-term commitment,’ said one executive who participated in the London meeting. Spokesmen for Total, Shell and Rolls-Royce said they don't comment on meetings held by their executives.” (Wall Street Journal, “U.S. Warns Over Limits of Iran Sanctions Easing,” 1/31/14)

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“Iran [welcomes] the most senior French trade delegation in years on Monday, telling more than 100 executives that the farsighted among them stood to win the race for business following an easing of some economic sanctions…’A new chapter has begun in relations between Iran and Europe,’ Mohammad Nahavandian, President Hassan Rouhani's chief of staff, was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency. ‘You should carry the message back that potential for cooperation with Iran is real and not to be overlooked,’ he told the delegation. ‘Those with longer foresight stand to win this race.’ The delegation of more than 100 executives from Medef, the French employers' association, on a Feb 2-5 trip, met Nahavandian and members of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, IRNA said. A source close to the delegation told Reuters it was the most senior group of entrepreneurs and financiers to visit Iran since the 1979 revolution, representing the defence, aviation, petrochemicals, automotive, shipping and cosmetics sectors. Among companies represented were Safran, Airbus , Total, GDF-Suez, Renault, Alcatel, Alstom, Amundi and L'Oréal, the source said. ‘Many of these firms have worked in Iran before and their goal now is to restore links,’ the source said. ‘The very makeup of the delegation shows these people are here to evaluate potential for cooperation.’ A French embassy source in Tehran said the visit was merely exploratory and ‘nothing is to be signed this time around.’” (Reuters, “Iran welcomes French business chiefs after sanctions eased,” 2/3/14)

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"Iran will have a new, attractive investment model for oil contracts by September, its president and oil minister told some of the world's top oil executives here on Thursday, part of its drive to win back Western business. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said their new administration was keen to open up to Western investments and technology, executives who attended the meeting said. They also stressed the importance of fossil fuel, with global energy demand rising. ‘The fact that the president of Iran came to the meeting today... is clearly a sign that Iran wants to open up to international oil companies,’ said Paolo Scaroni, chief executive of Italy's Eni, who was at the meeting. ’It was an impressive presentation,’ said one of three further oil executives who were at the meeting and spoke with Reuters on condition of anonymity. ’They said they are working on a new model to work with investors and are happy to see us,’ he added. ‘They not only need money but technologies. They are happy to have consultations about how new contracts shall work. They want to decide on the model by September.’ ’The message was - look at us, our geological risks are minimal, reserves are huge, come and we will create competitive terms and you will be happy. Your return on investments will be acceptable,’ another executive said. Along with ENI, France's Total, Britain's BP , LUKoil and GazpromNeft from Russia, and several other companies were present.” (Reuters, “Iran lures oil majors with new contracts pledge,” 1/23/14)

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"Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Iran's oil minister, Bijan Zanganeh, said, 'We have no limitations for U.S. companies.' Asked who he would like to see return or enter Iran, he named European giants Total SA, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Eni SpA, Statoil ASA and BP PLC…'I am talking to some of them,' he said, without saying which." (Wall Street Journal, "Iran Wants U.S. Companies to Develop Oil Fields," 12/4/13)

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"Iran’s oil ministry has opened contacts with western majors as the government of Hassan Rouhani tries to capitalise on progress in nuclear talks and encourage companies to prepare for an eventual lifting of sanctions. Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, the veteran oil minister who has returned to government after an eight-year absence, told the Financial Times he had held meetings with European companies and “indirectly” with US firms with a view to inviting them back to Iran. In his first interview with the foreign media, the minister who persuaded the likes of Total, Royal Dutch Shell, Eni and Statoil to invest in the oil and gas sector in the 1990s despite US sanctions, said these companies were now among those he was seeking to attract back to Iran…Some oil majors appear to be open to an Iranian approach. When asked last month if Total would return to Iran if sanctions were lifted, Christophe de Margerie, chief executive of the French energy group, replied: 'Of course.' Indeed, last month its head of exploration and production for the Middle East, Arnaud Breuillac, travelled to Tehran to meet the head of Iran’s national company, Rokneddin Javadi, reportedly telling him that Total would resume oil and gas operations in Iran as soon as sanctions were lifted." (Financial Times, "Iran opens contacts with oil groups," 11/26/13)

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"The relaxation of sanctions on Iran promises an opening for international companies that have been sidelined from one of the Middle East's largest consumer markets…The deal is 'good news toward the normalization of the international [community's] relationships with Iran,' said a representative for Total SA, which ended talks with Iran over a big natural-gas project as European sanctions tightened over the past few years." (Wall Street Journal, "Iran Deal Has Western Firms Eager to Resume Business,"  11/24/13)

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"Iran is courting international energy giants such as Chevron Corp., Total SA and Royal Dutch Shell PLC, eager to attract Western investment back to the oil industry if it wins sanctions relief in its troubled nuclear talks with Western countries. Iranian officials involved in the overtures, who described the talks, said the country is eager to start re-establishing ties with Western companies to speed more substantial talks about investment if the world powers negotiating with Iran in Geneva reach an agreement. The outreach has been low key and in some cases, unsuccessful…Talking with Iranian officials isn't always a violation of sanctions. U.S. sanctions specifically prohibit discussions over possible investments in Iran for American companies. Many European companies have kept up contact with Iranian officials and executives over the years, even as they've ceased operations and meaningful dialogue about projects. In 2010, Total, Shell and Spain's Repsol SA pulled out of talks to enter a giant Iranian natural-gas development to comply with EU sanctions. According to two Iranian oil officials, the National Iranian Oil Co. has suggested recently to Total executives that it could assist in the final stages of that project—five development phases of the South Pars natural-gas field, now being developed by Iranian companies, are scheduled to be completed in the coming two years. 'They want to determine a framework for cooperation' with Total, said an official with Pars Oil & Gas Co., the state-controlled company overseeing the field. The official said the proposed efforts wouldn't involve large investments but would ensure Total a future foothold in Iran's oil-and-gas sector. The French company's vice president for the Middle East, Arnaud Breuillac, met last month with the head of NIOC, Roknoddin Javadi, at the state-company's Tehran headquarters, according to people familiar with the meeting. Mr. Breuillac has since been promoted to lead the company's overall exploration and production arm from Jan 1. In recent days, however, contacts between Iran and Total have chilled after Tehran accused Paris of scuttling a nuclear deal, Iranian oil officials said. Chevron, Total and Shell all said that they were complying with sanctions, or declined to comment on talks with Iranian officials or didn't respond to calls requesting comment. 'We'll go back to Iran when and if international sanctions are lifted,' a Total spokesman said." (Wall Street Journal, "Iran Courting Western Oil Companies in Case Sanctions Are Eased," 11/21/13)

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"In anticipation of a thaw, Iran is preparing to capitalize on improved relations with the West. And to win skeptics over to the idea that crippling economic sanctions targeting Iran should be dropped, Tehran is floating a huge incentive -- the prospect of giving Western investors access to the country's vast oil and gas reserves. Western-friendly Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh has been sending signals that the new spirit of openness being displayed by Iranian officials could extend to Iran's energy market…Christophe de Margerie, the chief executive of the French energy giant Total, told reporters that his company was eager to return to Iran if sanctions were eased and Tehran made energy contracts more lucrative." (Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, "Iran Floats Prospect Of Opening Energy Industry To West," 10/15/13).

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"Peter Voser, chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell, and Christophe de Margerie, his counterpart at France’s Total, used the Oil & Money conference in London on Tuesday to highlight the potential energy windfall if sanctions preventing international oil companies from dealing with Tehran were lifted... He was echoed by Mr de Margerie, who said that he hoped doing business with Iran would again be permitted 'as soon as possible, not just for Total but for the world and for Iran. Any country cannot stay out of the system.' Before the tightening of sanctions against Iran a few years ago, Shell and Total were two of the most active companies doing business with the Islamic republic... The project was completed in 2005. Until 2009, Total was involved in the drawn-out development of Iran’s vast South Pars natural gas field, also in the Gulf’s waters." (The Telegraph, "Tapping Iran’s oil and gas vital for world demand, say Shell and Total," 10/1/2013) 

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"French energy giant Total will return to Iran, if international sanctions are lifted on petroleum exports, chief executive Christophe de Margerie said at an industry conference here on Tuesday. Questioned by reporters about whether the company would return to the Islamic republic, should sanctions be lifted, de Margerie replied: 'Of course.'The Total chief spoke at the Oil & Money conference, a key industry event which is held each year in the British capital…'Why, if Iran is back in the (international) community should we decide just ourselves that they are banned?' de Margerie told reporters. 'Today there is an embargo. This embargo is valid for everybody and we will wait for this embargo to be lifted.' De Margerie hoped that this would happen 'as soon as possible.' He added: 'Of course we will have to discuss the contractual terms. Just like any other country it will be just based on 'is it a win-win between them and us.' 'We like to be a long-term partner and we have long-term vision when we are doing long-term deals.'" (AP, "Total will return to Iran if sanctions lifted," 10/1/12)

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"Iran is asking French oil giant Total SA (TOT) to resume refuelling its passenger aircraft and has even raised the question with the French president, an Iranian official said recently. The move underscores Iran's hopes that the election in May of a new French administration could lead to a thaw between the two countries. Iran asked French President Francois Hollande last month to intercede with Total over the refuelling of its aircraft. "He said he would look into it," the Iranian official said. Under Mr. Hollande's predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, France led a European push to tighten sanctions against Iran, culminating in a European Union embargo July 1. But the Islamic Republic hopes France will soften its stance under Mr. Hollande, who was elected in May. Tehran also appealed directly to Total's Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie for the resumption of refuelling of the national airline planes, the person said. A Total spokesperson confirmed the company had stopped 'deliveries of jet fuel to Iran Air in March 2011, due to the evolution of the relationship between Iran and the international community.'" (Fox News, "Iran Asks France's Total To Resume Refuelling Passenger Planes-Source," 8/21/12)

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"French oil company Total SA booked a 316 million euro ($389 million) charge to its accounts on Friday to cover the likely cost of settlement with U.S. authorities over an investigation into corruption in Iran.

The investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice dates back to 2003, and is in connection with gas contracts awarded in the oil and gas producing Gulf country in the 1990s.

Total and its chief executive Christophe de Margerie, who was in charge of its Middle East division at the time, have been under investigation in France in connection with the same affair since 2006.

Western Europe's third largest oil industry player, Total has been talking to the U.S. authorities about an out of court settlement since 2010, and late last year, the SEC made a proposal that included fines, but was rejected by Total." (Reuters, "Total takes 316 mln euro charge for Iran graft probe," 7/27/12) 

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"Refiners in South Africa include Shell, BP, Total, Chevron, petrochemicals group Sasol , and Engen, majority-owned by Malaysian state oil group Petronas." (Reuters, "S.Africa keen to replace Iranian crude with Nigerian," 5/24/2012)

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"Foreign firms dealing with Iran's oil and gas sector admit that severe Western sanctions are taking their toll on business, despite Tehran talking up its ambitions at the opening of an international industry exhibition this week. The International Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemical Exhibition, held in northern Tehran, was three-quarters filled by Iranian companies working at every level of the industry, from the biggest to ones involved in peripheral activities such as instruments, quality inspections and oil barrel manufacturing. There were 315 foreign stands, down from the 496 present at last year's trade show. Some of the biggest foreign companies that had been major partners in the industry, such as the Anglo-Dutch group Shell and Italy's ENI, were not present. Others, such as the China Petroleum Technology and Development Corporation, the French-Iranian joint venture Beh Total and Norway's Statoil, did have stands -- but representatives there told AFP they had been instructed by their bosses to give no comments at all to journalists." (Agence France-Press, "Foreign firms say times tough in Iran's energy sector," 4/18/12)

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"French oil major Total SA stopped buying Iranian crude oil for its refineries and trading activities at the end of 2011, six months ahead of the effective implementation of a European embargo on Iran's oil, and has partly replaced it with oil from Saudi Arabia, Chief Financial Officer Patrick de la Chevardiere said Friday. Total's acknowledgment that it has substituted some Iranian crude oil with Saudi oil is the first such public comment by a major European oil company since the European Union decided last month to embargo Iranian oil. The company's previous Iranian crude-oil supply had been 'some heavy oil that was well suited for our French refineries,' and the substitution crude oil the group has found since it stopped buying from Iran is 'a bit more complicated to process,' Mr. de la Chevardiere said in an interview." (Wall Street Journal, "Total Looks to Saudis," 2/13/12) 

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In 2011, Total was added to the Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement in Iran because of oil-related investment of US $20 million since 1996.
 

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"This year, 166 Chinese companies are present at the fair compared to 100 companies last year,' a senior oil ministry official said. 'The number of foreign companies are up 35 percent,' to 496 out of the total 1,550, he said. He said that despite UN sanctions and bilateral punitive measures by the United States and the European Union against Iran, 'Germany is present with 64 companies, Italy with 36, Britain with 37, Spain with 14, France with 15 and South Korea with 33 companies.' Major Western energy groups such as Total of France, Norwegian Statoil and OMV of Austria, who have withdrawn from Iran, made a 'symbolic' appearance at the fair." (AFP, "Chinese Firms Dominate Iran Oil Exhibition," 4/15/11)

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"Total SA (TOT) and Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN) discreetly contacted Iranian authorities last week, seeking to reassure the Islamic Republic after telling the U.S. they have no plans for further investments for now, people familiar with the matter said in recent days. Total and Shell contacted Iran as the U.S. announced commitments by the companies "to terminate their investments and avoid any new activity in Iran's energy sector." The disclosure was made by the State Department in a Sept. 30 press release, which also said Statoil ASA (STO) and Eni SpA (E) had made similar commitments. Though the two companies are not breaching any sanctions in communicating with Iran, the contacts suggest they have not renounced their long-term ambitions in Iran, which hosts the world's second-largest natural gas resources and stands as the fourth-largest global oil exporter....Total and Shell still do some direct business with Iran, regularly buying crude oil from the Middle Eastern country. But the Anglo-Dutch oil company has come under pressure for the trades, which are not prohibited under European sanctions." (Wall Street Journal, "Total, Shell Keep Line Open With Tehran Despite US Claim," 10/8/2010)

"Open sources reported that Total sold gasoline to Iran in 2009 and 2010, but subsequently stopped in 2010." (U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report: "Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products between January 1, 2009 and June," September 3, 2010)

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"On September 30th, Total made a "pledge to stop investing in Iran's energy sector" as a result of pressure from American sanctions (AP, "US hits Iranian energy firm with sanctions," 9/30/2010). However, Total has continued to purchase Iranian crude oil, claiming that the purchases are "not illegal under the latest United Nations sanctions" (Reuters, "Oil majors tell US still have some Iran dealings," 9/30/2010). 

"An oil tanker named Front Page, chartered by Royal Dutch Shell PLC, left this port on March 17 and reported it was going to another U.A.E. port, then on to Saudi Arabia, ship-tracking data show.

But the tracking information reveals that Front Page also made an unreported stop—to the coast of Iran. There it loaded Iranian oil, according to records obtained by oil traders and shipping sources.

The incident, some oil-industry experts say, is an example of how some companies these days are hiding their business dealings with Iran, even when they are perfectly legal because they aren't subject to any sanctions.

Another oil tanker that stopped in Iran in March, which oil traders say was chartered by Total SA of France, turned off its tracking transponder throughout the visit, according to ship-tracking data...

Still, given all the controversy over Iran's nuclear program, many companies decline to discuss their Iranian oil purchases. Companies like Shell and BP have said they have stopped selling gasoline to Iran.

In the case of the Total-chartered vessel, an Iranian-owned tanker named Saveh, AIS data show it reported its destination as Kharg Island, an Iranian oil-export terminal, on Feb. 28." (The Wall Street Journal. "Oil Trade with Iran Thrives, Discreetly," 5/20/10)

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"Total has long been a player in Iran's oil and gas development industry. A $2 billion investment in 1998 by a consortium it led in Iran's South Pars gas fields was deemed by the Clinton administration to violate the Iran Sanctions Act, but the president exercised his right to waive sanctions. More recently, Total announced a decision to hold off on future oil and gas development projects investments. But in February 2010 its chief executive, Christophe de Margerie, said that it once again had its eye on Iran's gas reserves, despite international pressure. "The balance of supply and demand in the world, notably for gas, depends also on Iran," he said in comments published in the French newspaper Le Monde. In the meantime, Total spokesperson Jim Floren confimed that the company continues to sell Iran gasoline, and maintains an office in Tehran."  From 2000-2009, the company was the recipient of $1.1 billion US federal funds.  Their business in Iran is currently active.  They are potentially violators of the Iran Sanctions Act. (The New York Times, "Profiting from Iran, and the US," 3/6/2010)

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"A senior Iranian energy official said on Monday the value of a possible new liquefied natural gas development deal with France's Total (TOTF.PA) had fallen to $7.5-8 billion, state broadcaster IRIB reported... Total declined to be drawn on the details of any possible deals in Iran. 'We have no comment to make. However, Iran remains a country of interest to us in the long term,' a Total spokeswoman said." (Reuters, "Iran sees possible Total deal worth $7.5-8 bln," 10/12/09)

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"New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli also announced Tuesday the $110 billion fund would freeze an additional $300 million in seven other companies...The decision comes after two years of reviewing these companies, the potential risk of the investments and, in some cases, humanitarian efforts in these countries. 'We don't expect our investments to benefit regimes that support genocide and terrorism,' said DiNapoli...The fund also plans to monitor and prohibit further investment in ENI (E), Repsol YPF (REP), Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA), Total SA (TOT), ABB Ltd. (ABB), Alstom (ALO.FR) and Snam Rete Gas (SNMRY). Additionally, it plans to focus on other industries including telecommunications." (Wall Street Journal, "NY Comptroller To Divest $86.2M In State Pension Fund Investments," 6/30/09 and The Office of New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli)

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"Because of a lack of domestic refining capacity, oil-rich Iran is dependent on gasoline imports to meet about 40 percent of domestic consumption. Iran gets most of its gasoline imports from the Swiss firm Vitol, the Swiss/Dutch firm Trafigura, France's Total, the Swiss firm Glencore and British Petroleum, as well as the Indian firm Reliance." (Agence-France Press, "US lawmakers target Iran gasoline imports," 6/23/09)

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"Iranian Executive Director of the Continental Shelf Oil Company (Iranian national oil company) Mahmoud Zirkjian Alizada said on Friday that his company signed an agreement worth EURO 32 million with the French company Total to carry out support and planning operation in the Iranian Dorood three refinery." (Kuna News Agency, "Iran Oil company signs oil agreement with French Total, worth EURO 32 mln," 4/25/09)

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"Nestle has been the target of protests by Islamists since the Gaza onslaught began, some Iranian websites said. It is among a small number of foreign companies which have factories in Iran, which notably also includes French automaker Renault. Others, such as South Korean group Samsung, market their products in the Islamic republic. Some, particularly in the oil and gas sector, have operated in the country for some time, such as Frances Total and Anglo-Dutch Shell." (Agence France Presse, "Iran to punish firms trading with Israel," 1/12/09)

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"In recent months, Iran has, according to the respected trade publication International Oil Daily and other sources including the U.S. government, purchased nearly all of this gasoline from just five companies, four of them European: the Swiss firm Vitol; the Swiss/Dutch firm Trafigura; the French firm Total; British Petroleum; and one Indian company, Reliance Industries." (The Wall Street Journal, "How To Put The Squeeze On Iran," 11/13/08)

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"State-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) is negotiating the acquisition of a 25% stake in the Pars LNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project with the Iranian government. Under the terms of the deal French major Total would see its stake in Pars LNG reduced from 40% to 25%." (Middle East and Africa Oil and Gas Insights, "CNPC Looking At Pars LNG Deal," 10/1/08)

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"The French oil company Total said it would pull out of a big investment in an Iranian gas field - a blow to Tehran, which is keen to exploit its gas reserves, and a victory for the Bush administration, which has been seeking to isolate Iran's government. A company spokeswoman said it was too risky to invest in Iran now." (Guardian, "US warning follows Iran missile tests," 7/18/08)

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"Total, an energy giant, said this week it was giving up plans to invest in Iran because of the risk." (The Economist, "Coming to a city near you; Israel and Iran," 7/12/08)

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"French energy group Total has said it is now too risky to invest in Iran. The company was planning to invest in a liquefied natural gas project linked to Irans South Pars gas field in the near future, but is now expected not to. The decision comes after weeks of increasing tension between Iran and Israel, which is destabilising the region." (The Daily Telegraph, "Total says Iran too dangerous for investment," 7/10/08)

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"William Burns, U.S. Under Secretary of State for political affairs, pointed out that several big energy companies, including Total, Shell, ENI and Repsol, have scaled back their business in Iran over the past few years." (Reuters, "US to review if Statoil violates Iran sanctions law," 7/9/08)

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"Total, Shell and Repsol of Spain are hanging back from signing contracts, which the Iranians are desperate for them to sign, said Simon Henderson, an oil expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy." (Associated Press, "Iran looks to tap key oil field with homegrown crews," 5/11/08)

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"Gazprom, together with Frances Total and Malaysias Petronas, has already invested in phases 2-3 of massive South Pars gas field, a project worth around $2 billion." (Reuters, "Gazprom, Iran agree new large energy projects," 2/19/08)

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Listed by U.S. Government as doing business in Iran. (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, List of Companies Doing Business With State Sponsors Of Terror, Removed from the Internet in July 2007)

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"GIANTS WITH A FOOT IN TEHRAN: Total, Shell, Statoil, BNP Paribas, Commerzbank, MTN, UPS, Linde, Technip, Nokia, Ericsson, Peugeot, Renault, OMV, Societe Generale, ENI, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Siemens, LG, Samsung, Bosch, Valeo, Nestle, Unilever, BAT, Japan Tobacco." (The London Times, "American pressure threatens UK firms," 5/27/06)