Ungrateful Iran denies offer of oil aid for Katrina victims

According to the Tehran Times, media reports that Iran has offered oil aid to US hurricane victims are untrue, says an Islamic Repubic official.

Iran's oil ministry on Wednesday fiercely denied reports it had offered oil to the United States as aid for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, asserting that U.S. policies and sanctions made such a gesture impossible.

"Moves by the United States to establish economic sanctions and other pressure against the Islamic Republic of Iran are the main barriers to Iranian aid," said Iran's envoy to the oil cartel OPEC, Hossein Kazempur-Ardebili.

Yes, there is that longstanding trade embargo between our countries. But that didn't prevent President Bush from sending aid to victims of the Bam earthquake there two years ago.

From CNN.com, December 31, 2003:

The Bush administration Wednesday eased restrictions on assistance to Iran in response to the country's devastating earthquake.

Blanket licenses are being issued to permit American firms and individuals to transfer funds to Iran, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced.

Also, export of transportation equipment, satellite telephones and radio and personal computing systems will be permitted to help manage relief efforts, a U.S. official said.

"Getting aid to those so greatly affected by this devastating earthquake is a top priority," said Treasury Secretary John Snow.

The goal, Snow said, was speeding up the process of helping Iranians.

The article goes on to mention the Iranians accepted that aid from the "Great Satan."

Thanks for nothing, jerks.