41.   Options under consideration include banning all American trade with Iran and prohibiting American oil companies from purchasing Iranian oil for sale abroad.

42.   Other administration officials told The Associated Press that Christopher wants to ban all U.S. trade with Iran and to stop American oil companies from purchasing Iranian oil.

43.   After all permanent facilities are operating, Shell will transfer management to the Iranian oil company.

44.   About two-thirds of the current trade value is in Iranian oil.

45.   But if Washington convinces other major purchasers, such as Japan, to cut off Iranian oil imports, the dislocation could be immense.

46.   But the sanctions are likely to cost thousands of U.S. jobs and deprive U.S. companies of the Iranian oil market.

47.   During his three-day visit, the Iranian oil minister also planned to meet with the head of Gazprom.

48.   Ever since, U.S. companies have been banned from buying Iranian oil even through foreign subsidiaries.

49.   Gaining further storage facilities in South Africa would put Iranian oil within short-haul range of east African destinations, many of which can only handle small tankers.

50.   Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze has said he would discuss proposals for shipping Iranian oil through Georgian ports and pipelines to Europe with Rafsanjani.