BP chief's remarks enrage Iran

[kuozzman]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,12858,1397898,00.html

BP was engulfed last night in a political storm with Iran accusing Britain's largest company of "unfriendly" comments that, it said, would not be forgotten.

Bijan Zanganeh, the Iranian oil minister, said BP was trying to curry favour with the Americans after its chief executive Lord Browne stated that, politically, Iran was not a candidate for investment.

"We do not consider this a friendly approach and we will not forget it. We think it is a move taken by BP for the Americans," said Mr Zanganeh whose country holds a 10th of the world's oil reserves.

Iran is especially sensitive after an aggressive foreign policy was outlined in George Bush's inauguration speech last week and his deputy, Dick Cheney, described Iraq's neighbour as top of the world's "trouble spots".

Accused by Washington of developing nuclear arms and backing terrorism there has been increasing speculation that Mr Bush might consider military intervention there.

[cosmicdot]

1. has BP become a sovereign state?

Unocal met with the Taliban (Afghanistan), etc.

why are corporations doing state department bidding?

Iran's oil minister speaks for Iran ...

British Petroleum's chief executive speaks for Great Britain and the US?

[98geoduck]

2. It's as though they're running the two countries....

I'm sure Exxon and the rest of their ilk agree.

New Resource Wars
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0896084620/002-8473944-1971244

[Wilms]

3. They were going to have Con-di handle it.

But she's tied up in hearings for awhile.