Iran's caretaker oil minister Gholamhossein Nozari has said that France cannot afford to ignore Iran's energy reserves, reported Reuters, citing Iran's student news agency ISNA as its source.
The news agency quoted Mr Nozari as saying: Iran’s (energy) reserves and its market are too attractive for the French to give up.
The report said that the government of France is pushing local energy companies Total and Gaz de France not to invest in Iran.
Although oil major Total has proposed investment in a multi-billion dollar gas project in Iran, it said it is yet to arrive at a conclusive decision.
Iran’s intention to garner nuclear technology is being viewed by western powers as a smokescreen for a military program, revealed the report.