Iran Pressure: It's About the OIL!!!

[JCMach1]

Japan and Europe are the only ones getting in on the action of the world's second largest UNTAPPED reserves.

USD2bn Iran, Japan oil deal
Iran and Japan have inked a USD2bn deal to develop the southern half of the Azedegan oil field, one of the largest untapped fields in the world. Japex, Inpex and Tomen will develop the field in one of the biggest international deals since the Iranian revolution in 1979.
http://www.ameinfo.com/news/Detailed/35049.html

Japan, Iran sign two-billion-dollar oil deal despite US concern

Photo: AFP
Click to enlarge
TOKYO (AFP) - Japan said it had signed a two-billion-dollar deal with Iran to develop the massive Azadegan oilfield in order to assure stable oil supplies despite the US expressing "deep concern" over the deal.

A Japanese trade ministry official said the two sides signed an agreement early Thursday on the development of the Azedegan field in southwestern Iran after months of negotiations and repeated warnings from Washington that it was unhappy with the prospects of such an accord.

Ever since the 1973 oil crisis, Japan, which imports nearly all of its oil needs, has developed its own diplomacy with key oil producers in the Middle East, often putting it at odds with the United States, especially over Iran, dubbed part of an 'axis of evil' by President George W. Bush.

The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), Inpex Corp. of Japan and a NIOC unit, Naftiran Intertrade Co. Ltd. (NICO), said in a joint statement they "signed the contract for the integrated appraisal and development operations of Azadegan field."

The Japanese government said it hoped the deal would lead to stable energy supplies and promote stronger ties between the two countries.

Inpex will hold 75 percent of the project and NICO 25 percent, with initial production set at 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) within 40 months, rising to 150,000 bpd after 52 months and 260,000 bpd in eight years.

The contract lasts 12-and-a-half years, with Inpex expected to recover its investment in six-and-a-half years.

Production is expected to start some time in 2007...
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/040219/afp/040219165352business.html

[kalian]

1. Definitely some very interesting developments....

I've always believed that the US moved in on Iraq (and will
continue to do so in other ME countries) in order to control the
oil supplies to some of its "allies".
When you control the spigot, you can control nations.

Japan isn't dumb...and this is a VERY strategic move on their part.
I would also like to point out that Russia has close strategic
ties with Iran as well...as does China. Two key players that are
looking to counterbalance the US "supremacy".
IF the US confronts either of these two nations, WWIII will erupt
in a blink of an eye.

Just remember what Peak Oil is all about...

[Taeger]

2. Oil and foreign relations

Just remember that it was the US cutting off Japan's oil spigot that prompted them to launch a sneak attack against Pearl Harbor. The strategic bombing of Germany during WWII did little to decrease industrial production, but it worked wonders in destroying fuel depots and undermining Germany's ability to wage a mechanized war based on fossil fuels.

Also remember that Japanese sub-warfare was relatively ineffective because they concentrated on seeking armed ships (those that could defend themselves) as opposed to targeting supply ships like the Americans did (sink oil tankers).

Nope, anybody who pimps the idea that oil IS NOT a concern in international diplomacy is ignorant or lying.

[Deja Q]

6. I recall a few of 70s tv shows developed by Norman Lear

And it was always said that "the arabs control the world" because it was during the (first) oil crisis.

What has been learned? The SUV, hummer, and tax incentives for corporations buying them speak for themselves. x(

[Lis]

3. They are totally after Iran

I really think that they want to wage war against Iran. They have been pushing for it since September.

[hang a left]

5. I think the next war target is Saudi Arabia.

n/t

[Astarho]

7. They can't go for Saudi, yet

The Royal family is still giving us oil and if we invade that country, Muslims all over the world will fight the "infidels" who have invaded the Islamic holy land. One of Bin Ladin's demands was that we pull our troops out of Saudi Arabia.

Iran, however, has just as much oil and is culturally isolated (to a point) from the rest of the Muslim world, as they are Shiites. And there are plenty of ethnic groups in Iran we can play off against each other.

[hang a left]

8. As a previous poster stated

going after Iran would ignite conflicts with Russia and China. I don't think that we want to eff around with them. I just have been trippin on the fact that Bin Laden is ready for the cameras, and I have foiled on him giving up his home boys. That is if you believe that Bin Laden is CIA, which I do. It is just a gut feeling. Don't mind me I don foil for every occasion.

[Robb]

4. I've said this before

The part about this that I can't understand not being reported is the fact that negotiations for this agreement began looking promising the same freakin' week that Libya announced its intentions to open up for inspections.

It's the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) that gives the Bush administration "deep concern". Libya's newfound friendliness is an important step towards rescinding ILSA. Japan recognized that it was time to move on the Azadegan shelf, before ILSA went away and U.S. companies could legally get involved.

So yeah, very shrewd of the Japanese companies. And the U.S. can't really complain because we're obviously trying to make nicey-nicey with Iran for the same reason.