The Iran Times reported last week on this page that Tatneft officials were in Iran and signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the development of the Zagheh oilfield.
Shortly thereafter, the Tatneft website carried a disclaimer in English, saying Tatneft had not signed any agreement of any kind for oil or gas work in Iran.
Fars said the confusion was due to the fact that there are two Tatnefts—one based in Russia and one in the Republic of Tatarstan, which is a subdivision of the Russian Federation.
However, that explanation made no sense. The Tatneft chairman, Rustam Minnikhanov, was in Tehran and photographed at the signing of the agreement. And the Tatneft website that carried the denial that an agreement had been signed states that the Tatneft chairman is Rustam Minnikhanov.
The mystery continues.
