(Adds Shell denial)
DUBAI, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell onSaturday denied a report in Iranian media that it had sentrepresentatives to Iran ahead of the expected lifting ofinternational sanctions.
Iran's Mehr news agency had earlier reported that Shell andFrench oil major Total had sent executives to Tehran,and were due to meet officials from the National Iranian OilCompany (NIOC) and National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) onSunday.
International sanctions on Iran were expected to be liftedon Saturday under the terms of a nuclear deal agreed last year,and Iran freed four U.S. prisoners. Iran has pledged to ramp upits oil production shortly after sanctions are lifted. (Reporting by Sam Wilkin; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
