Mon 31 July 2023:
Iran’s Oil Minister Javad Owji said the country does not tolerate any violation of its rights regarding the exploitation of the Arash gas field, which it jointly shares with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
He made the remarks in an interview with Shana News Agency affiliated with the Iranian Oil Ministry, which was published on Sunday.
The offshore zone of the resource-rich Gulf, known as Arash in Iran and Dorra in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, has long been a focal point of contention between the three countries.
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, who share some maritime gas and oil resources, last year signed an agreement to jointly develop the field despite objections from Iran, which branded the deal as “illegal”.
“Iran will pursue its rights and interests regarding exploitation and exploration” of the field “if there is no desire for understanding and cooperation”, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji was quoted as saying by the official Shana news agency on Sunday.
He said Tehran has sought “the path of negotiation and understanding with our neighbours”, according to Shana.
“Iran will not tolerate any violation of its rights,” Owji added.
Earlier this month, Kuwait had invited Iran for another round of maritime border talks after Tehran said it was ready to start drilling in the field.
Kuwaiti Oil Minister Saad Al Barrak told SkyNews Arabia on Thursday that his country will start drilling and production at the Durra gas field without waiting for border demarcation with Iran.
Earlier this month, the foreign ministries of both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia said the two countries, together, have “exclusive rights” to the gas field.
The conflict over the field dates back to the 1960s, when Iran and Kuwait handed offshore concessions to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, predecessor to BP, and Royal Dutch Shell, respectively.
The two concessions overlapped in the northern section of the field, which is expected to have recoverable reserves of 220 billion cubic metres (almost eight trillion cubic feet).
For many years, Iran and Kuwait have undertaken failed talks over their disputed maritime border area, which is rich in natural gas.
The drilling of the field by Iran in 2001 prompted Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to agree to collaborate on offshore projects.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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