81.   The Utilities Board said in November that it would consider barring the companies from government contracts after a review of court documents.

82.   They would also ask the Legislature and City Council to pass laws barring Swiss companies from selling goods and services to the state and city.

83.   Those would bar companies from hiring the same accounting firm to perform both auditing and consulting services.

84.   Tobacco companies are barred from participating in the negotiations.

85.   U.S. companies are barred from participating.

86.   U.S. companies already are barred from most business dealings with Iran because Washington says Teheran sponsors terrorism.

87.   U.S. companies have been barred from buying Iraqi oil since the Persian Gulf War.

88.   U.S. companies already are barred from most business dealings in Iran and Libya.

89.   U.S. companies already are barred from most business dealings with Iran and Libya because of what the U.S. government says is their sponsorship of terrorism.

90.   Under U.S. law, U.S. companies are not barred from doing business with Iran, which its proposed participation technically would entail.