Egyptian Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla attended on Monday an oil conference in Abu Dhabi where he told Reuters he was not going to Iran, appearing to contradict a report on Sunday that he was on his way to Tehran to strike new oil deals.

Reuters quoted sources close to his delegation on Sunday as saying he was on his way to Tehran. One source was reported as saying he was due to meet several senior Iranian officials to discuss the possibility of securing oil supplies from Tehran.

On Monday, El Molla told Reuters: “No Iran visit. I am attending the conference.”

(Source: Reuters)