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French firm 'quits Iran gas deal' French firm 'quits Iran gas deal'
(about 3 hours later)
The boss of French energy giant Total says he will not invest in Iran because it is too risky. The head of French energy giant Total has said it will not invest in Iran because it is too politically 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 company had been planning to develop the huge South Pars gas field, 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. 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 Total's move will be a big blow to the Iranian 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. It means Iran is now unlikely to significantly increase its gas exports until late into the next decade, they add.
Early on Wednesday Iran test-fired a missile capable of reaching Tel Aviv. Sanctions
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). Total has a memorandum of understanding with the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company to develop Phase 11 of Iran's half of the South Pars field in the Gulf.
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". Today we would be taking too much political risk to invest in Iran because people will say: 'Total will do anything for money' Christophe de MargerieChief Executive, Total
In May, Total said it was still interested in working on the project together with the Malaysian company, Petronas.
But Mr De Margerie's comments now cast serious doubt on whether the French firm will invest in the Islamic Republic in the near future.
"Today we would be taking too much political risk to invest in Iran because people will say: 'Total will do anything for money'," he said.
The remarks follow increasing tension between Iran and Israel over Tehran's nuclear programme.
Iran has the second biggest gas reserves after Russia
The US has also recently stepped up the pressure to impose tougher sanctions on the Iranian government and companies that do business with it.
Total was the last major Western energy group to have seriously considered investing in the country's huge gas reserves.
It was also one of the few companies in the world to have the technology needed to exploit Iran's huge, but untapped gas reserves.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says it has been particularly galling for Tehran to watch as Qatar pumps vast amounts of gas from the South Pars field to its side of the Gulf, helping it become one of the world's major energy suppliers.
But observers say it is not just sanctions or political pressure - international banks simply are not prepared to put up the billions of dollars needed for such investments in Iran.
'Provocative' missile test
Mr De Margerie's remarks come a day after state media reported that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards test-fired a updated version of the Shahab-3 missile, said to have a range of 2,000km (1,240 miles).
Gen Hoseyn Salami, the Guards' 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."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.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".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.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. "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 Defence 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.