News

July 09, 2008

The Geology Doesn’t Change, But The Politics Do: Persian Gold Fits The John Teeling Mantra To A Tee

By Alastair Ford

You can’t fault the enthusiasm of the movers and shakers behind Persian Gold. Over a brief bite to eat in a Paddington hotel, as they are about to wend their separate ways after the company’s AGM, an Irish director, a technical adviser who would be a director but isn’t allowed because he’s American, and an Iranian geologist, all talk over each other to explain to Minesite and to each other how and why Persian Gold is so great.

Their enthusiasm isn’t unwarranted, but let’s issue the disclaimer. It comes from chairman John Teeling, the Irish director aforementioned, who’s the original mover and shaker in Persian Gold as is, and a man well-known in the resources sector for his ability to turn a buck and a euro on a tricky situation. He’s done well out of Iraq – and how many people can say that? – and now he’s in Iran. “This is for speculators”, he says, “no question about it”. That’s the disclaimer, and we can but...