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Last update - 12:52 05/08/2008
Berlin looking to cancel German gas firm's deal with Iran
By Barak Ravid and Assaf Uni, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Iran, gas, Germany, Israel

The German government hopes to persuade energy firm Steiner Gastec Prematechnik to cancel a 100 million euro deal with Iran's national gas carrier.

Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem said once news of the deal became public knowledge, Israel's ambassador to Berlin contacted a representative of Chancellor Angela Merkel's office to request her intervention in the matter.

"The message this deal sends is very negative," ambassador Yoram Ben Zeev said. "Especially due to the great sensitivity in Israel on this issue."
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Senior German officials responded that Merkel disapproves of the deal. Even though gas is no included as part of the sanctions against Iran over its nuclear activity, the officials said they would seek to hold talks with SGP on the matter.

SGP, the German firm, is to supply Iranian factories with equipment to turn gas into sulphur-free liquid fuel. This would enable the factories to transport the gas more efficiently to customers across the world.

Germany's Federal Agency for Economics had scrutinized the deal for a year before giving its final approval on Tuesday.

A number of Jewish groups have scathingly criticized the agreement, blasting Germany's fostering of economic relations with Iran despite the Islamic Republics nuclear program and its threats toward Israel.

Related articles:
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      1.   Germany looking to cancel gas firms deal with Iran 11:44  |  Millicent 05/08/08
      2.   Millicent, think before you write 12:13  |  Mark B. 05/08/08
      3.   # 1 millicent 12:27  |  Axel 05/08/08
      4.   To Mark B., whose security? 13:52  |  Arnaud 05/08/08
      5.   @1, fining only possible when the law 14:00  |  Jew- and Bookburner 05/08/08
      6.   Blind Germans jump Millicent 14:14  |  Avi 05/08/08
      7.   # 5 14:47  |  Axel 05/08/08
      8.   # 6 avi 14:56  |  Axel 05/08/08
      9.   #4,6 Western colonialist history has many similarities with 15:19  |  Carl 05/08/08
      10.   @ 7 I did write nay, didn´t I. Concerning the 15:41  |  Jew- and Bookburner 05/08/08
      11.   #2 Mark B....How about sacrificing to ensure 15:47  |  Lynn 05/08/08
      12.   How deeply Berlin loves Tehran 15:47  |  Jonathan S 05/08/08
      13.   Axel (7), in (10) it should read may, sorry. To ad 16:20  |  Jew- and Bookburner 05/08/08
      14.   Iran, Israel, Germany, the world. 16:41  |  curious 05/08/08
      15.   Jonathan S, a self hating German 16:41  |  Moshe 05/08/08
      16.   rearing ugly head again 17:31  |  wolf gangs 05/08/08
      17.   To Axel (#6) 17:40  |  Morris Valentine 05/08/08
      18.   Germany`s credibility 17:44  |  Daniel 05/08/08
      19.   Why is Israel involved? 18:43  |  Mark 05/08/08
      20.   # 17 morris valentine 19:57  |  Axel 05/08/08
      21.   # 11 lynn 20:02  |  Axel 05/08/08
      22.   # 17 mv 20:10  |  Axel 05/08/08
      23.   # 15 moshe 20:37  |  Axel 05/08/08
      24.   it`s for their own good. soon to be gone iran, bad investment. 20:46  |  fren 05/08/08
      25.   # 14 curious 21:54  |  Axel 05/08/08
      26.   Rule of Law 22:06  |  Jan 05/08/08
      27.   To Axel, noch einmal (#20, 22) 22:24  |  Morris Valentine 05/08/08
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