Iran says ready for bilateral talks with Kuwait over developing joint gas field

TEHRAN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran is prepared for bilateral talks with Kuwait on developing the joint Arash/Al-Durra gas field, Iran's deputy oil minister said on Sunday.

File photo: Agencies

"We believe that exploitation from the joint field should be done in an integrated manner, and this will lead to the strengthening of economic relations between the two countries," Deputy Minister of Petroleum for International Affairs and Trading Ahmad Asadzadeh was quoted as saying by Petro Energy Information Network, which is affiliated to the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum.

The reason for Iran to delay the operations in the Arash/Al-Durra gas field was the deferral in delimiting borders of the field with Kuwait, Asadzadeh noted.

The Iranian official stated that even if the borders have not been defined, the field can be developed in an integrated manner using internationally experienced models.

"The (Iranian) Ministry of Petroleum announces its readiness for negotiations in this regard," he pointed out.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait agreed to develop the Arash/Al-Durra gas field recently, but the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Saturday that the Saudi-Kuwait agreement is "illegal," since Iran also has a share in the field and must be included in any action to operate and develop the field.