Iranian Oil Ministry dismisses claim NIOC is linked to IRGC

TEHRAN, Sept. 26 (MNA) – The Oil Ministry denied on Tuesday a claim by the U.S. Treasury that the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is linked to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). "We strongly deny these false allegations," said Alireza Nikzad-Rahbar, a spokesman for the ministry, told the Mehr News Agency. In a statement on Monday, the U.S. Treasury claimed the NIOC was an "agent or affiliate" of the IRGC, and cited the appointment of Rostam Qasemi as oil minister in 2011 as a reason for its claim. Qasemi was a former commander of Khatam al-Anbia, the IRGC’s engineering and construction wing. Nikzad-Rahbar said Qasemi no longer had any connection to Khatam al-Anbia.