Royal Dutch Shell is struggling to pay off $1 billion that it owes Iran for crude oil because European Union and U.S. financial sanctions now make it almost impossible to process payments, industry sources said Four sources said the oil major owes a large sum to the National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) for deliveries of crude, with one putting the figure at close to $1 billion. A debt of that size would equate to roughly four large tanker loads of Iranian crude or about 8 million barrels. “Shell is working hard to figure out a way to pay NIOC,” said an industry source, who requested anonymity. “It’s very sensitive and very difficult. They want to stay on good terms with Iran, while abiding by sanctions.” A Shell spokesman declined to comment. Read more: Shell scrambles to pay huge bill for Iran oil
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Royal Dutch Shell is struggling to pay off $1 billion that it owes Iran for crude oil because European Union and U.S. financial sanctions now make it almost impossible to process payments, industry sources said

Four sources said the oil major owes a large sum to the National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) for deliveries of crude, with one putting the figure at close to $1 billion. A debt of that size would equate to roughly four large tanker loads of Iranian crude or about 8 million barrels.

“Shell is working hard to figure out a way to pay NIOC,” said an industry source, who requested anonymity. “It’s very sensitive and very difficult. They want to stay on good terms with Iran, while abiding by sanctions.”

A Shell spokesman declined to comment.

Read more: Shell scrambles to pay huge bill for Iran oil

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at a UPS facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 26, 2012. Obama used the event to talk about American energy and liquefied natural gas. [REUTERS/Jason Reed] Read: Obama to propose tax credit for natural gas trucks
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U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at a UPS facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 26, 2012. Obama used the event to talk about American energy and liquefied natural gas. [REUTERS/Jason Reed]

Read: Obama to propose tax credit for natural gas trucks