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| French firm 'quits Iran gas deal' | French firm 'quits Iran gas deal' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The boss of French energy giant Total says he will not invest in Iran because it is too risky. | The boss of French energy giant Total says he will not invest in Iran because it is too risky. |
| The firm had been due to develop gas fields in the south of the country, but Christophe de Margerie told the Financial Times it would not go ahead. | The firm had been due to develop gas fields in the south of the country, but Christophe de Margerie told the Financial Times it would not go ahead. |
| The announcement comes a day after Iran test-fired a series of missiles, amid weeks of rising tensions with Israel and the US over its nuclear ambitions. | |
| Analysts say the move will be a big blow to Iran's energy industry. | Analysts say the move will be a big blow to Iran's energy industry. |
| "Today we would be taking too much political risk to invest in Iran because people will say: 'Total will do anything for money'," Mr Margerie told the newspaper. | "Today we would be taking too much political risk to invest in Iran because people will say: 'Total will do anything for money'," Mr Margerie told the newspaper. |
| Early on Wednesday Iran test-fired a missile capable of reaching Tel Aviv. | |
| Iran state media said nine missiles had been fired in total, including a new Shahab-3, with a range of 2,000km (1,240 miles). | |
| Gen Hossein Salami, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's air force commander, said the tests demonstrated Iran's "resolve and might against enemies who in recent weeks have threatened Iran with harsh language". | |
| State media quoted him as saying: "Our hands are always on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch." | |
| Tehran has tested the Shahab-3 before, but the latest launch comes amid rising tensions in the region. | |
| William Burns, the top official handling Iranian issues at the US state department, said the launch was "very disturbing, provocative and reckless". | |
| But US officials played down suggestions that the move had brought military confrontation with Iran any closer. | |
| "The reality is there is a lot of signalling going on, but everybody recognises what the consequences of any kind of a conflict would be," said Defense Secretary Robert Gates. | |
| In recent weeks, the US has stepped up the pressure to impose tougher sanctions on Iran and companies that do business with it. | |
| The FT reported that Total was the last major western energy group considering making a significant investment to develop Iran's huge natural gas reserves. | The FT reported that Total was the last major western energy group considering making a significant investment to develop Iran's huge natural gas reserves. |