The Iranian media have been ecstatic over a published news report saying ExxonMobil has hired a lobbying firm to press the US government to lift sanctions, saying it shows that American oil companies are very eager to get back into Iran. But no sooner had Bloomberg News published the story than ExxonMobil denied it. Company spokesman Alan Jeffers said, “We are not lobbying on Iran sanctions. We are monitoring activities related to Iran in the US government.” The explanation rang true. Lobbying firms, because of their contacts inside the government, are often used to gather intelligence for business firms on what is going on. The lobbying firm hired by ExxonMobil is run by former Republican Sen. Don Nickles of Oklahoma. He said, “We are not influencing or advocating in any way on Iran sanctions. Our work with regard to Iran has involved only monitoring legislative activity in the US Congress dealing with that sanctions regime.”