TEHRAN, March 14 (Shana) � Deputy Petroleum Minister for International Affairs and Commerce Amir-Hossein Zamani-Nia said the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) is in final negotiations with international insurers.

�The company�s representatives took part in a meeting with 13 main tanker insurance groups in Dubai and carried out the final talks in order to reach the ultimate result,� he said according to an NITC media release.

�One of the problems which we are busy with its settlement is the insurance coverage of Iranian oil tankers and foreign vessels carrying our oil,� he added.

�There are 13 groups in the business of tanker insurance out of which 12 are European and Asian. The remaining which is a US group is influential and can share out the insurance coverage risk.�

Zamani-Nia also said that following offloading of several consignments of Iranian tankers abroad it appears that the problem of shipping Iran�s crude oil abroad is settled and only legal aspects require clarification.

By SHANA