segunda-feira, abril 12, 2004

Quais os interesses econômicos iranianos no Iraque?

Ninguém tem falado muito nisto, pensando apenas nos EUA e na coalizão, mas é um ponto importante: o Irã tem muito interesse no petróleo iraquiano.

A questão é se isto vai se traduzir em mais comércio no futuro. Será?

IranExpert: Iraq backs pipeline to Iran for oil export: "The US-led occupation authorities in Baghdad have backed plans for Iraq to build an oil pipeline to Iran to provide a new outlet for the country's rising oil production.

Ibrahim Bahr al-Uloum, Iraq's oil minister, told the Financial Times: 'We have agreed in principle to an offer from Iran to build a 10km pipeline across the Shatt al-Arab [waterway] to the Iranian port of Abadan,' said Mr Bahr al-Uloum. 'We faced no objection from the US.' Coalition officials in Baghdad confirmed a memorandum of understanding had been agreed between the former foes. 'It's a very good, practical thing to do,' said a senior coalition official.

Relations between Washington and Tehran have been uneasy since George W. Bush, US president, two years ago declared Iran part of an 'axis of evil'. The coalition official said: 'We leave the whole diplomatic question in the hands of the Iraqis. Paul Bremer [the US chief administrator in Iraq] says he realises they [the Iraqis] have to have good relations with all their neighbours.' "