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Oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico
Photo: AP

Iran offers help in fighting Gulf of Mexico oil leak

Iranian company included in recent round of sanctions against Tehran offers to send experts to help clean up largest environmental disaster in US history, saying that US, Britain can send request for aid from Iran. Revolutionary Guard official calls failure to stem gush 'disgrace to US and Britain'

An Iranian state company offered on Monday to help in preventing a vast oil slick that is moving towards the coast of the United States, the Islamic Republic's old foe, from causing an "ecological disaster."

 

General Rostam Qasemi, a senior commander of the Revolutionary Guards, said that should the US, Britain, and western countries believe that they are incapable of stemming the oil leak "they can submit an official request for aid from Iran."

 

Since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and sank last month, claiming 11 lives, hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude have been gushing into the Gulf, threatening wildlife and beaches.

 

If this occurs, the Qasemi said that Tehran "would study the topic and send experts from the Revolutionary Guard to put an end to the crisis and the environmental disaster."

 

The experts would be from the important Iranian corporation Khatam al-Anbiya, which is linked with the Revolutionary Guard. This company is one of 15 Iranian companies included in the recent round of sanctions imposed against Tehran.

 

"Despite the sanctions, the Revolutionary Guards are prepared for the humanitarian mission to send forces to the Gulf of Mexico," noted Qasemi. "Iranian experience in dealing with oil spills in the Persian Gulf countries, like Kuwait, has proven its abilities."

 

"It is a disgrace to the US and Britain that they have yet to stop the spill for months," added Qasemi.

 

Haidar Bahmani, managing director of the National Iranian Drilling Company, said his firm was ready to provide assistance in fighting the spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Oil Ministry's website SHANA reported.

 

"Our oil industry experts can curb the rig leakage in the Gulf of Mexico and prevent an ecological disaster in that part of the world," Bahmani said, without giving further details.

 

Iran, the world's fifth-largest crude exporter, is under US and UN sanctions for nuclear work the West suspects is aimed at making bombs. Tehran rejects the charge.

 

Reuters contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.22.10, 11:42
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