Oil company Total is to face trial in France over corruption allegations related to Iranian contracts, Reuters has reported.
The allegations came from US authorities over contracts dating from the 1990s and early 2000s, the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday.
US authorities accused Total of paying about $60mn in bribes to an Iranian government official between 1995 and 2004.
The authorities said Total made the payment to receive help in obtaining development rights in three oil and gas fields related to the South Pars project.
Total agreed last year to pay $398.2mn to settle US criminal and civil allegations that it paid bribes to win oil and gas contracts in Iran.
Last year, the company said it would demonstrate in any trial that their behaviour had been legal.
In its annual report, Total said that the resolution of these cases would not have a significant impact on the group’s financial situation or consequences for its future planned operations.
A spokeswoman for the French oil company confirmed it had received notification of the trial.
Given existing legal timetable it could be several months or a year before the trial begins.
