Iran Insists on Joint Exploitation of Arash Gas Field
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran is pushing for the joint exploitation of the Arash gas field that is shared with its southwestern neighbors, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said.
In comments at a presser on Monday, Kanaani underscored Iran’s demand for the joint exploitation of the Arash gas field.
He said Iran has expressed its readiness for talks with Kuwait regarding the exploitation and exploration of the gas field.
Reiterating Iran’s support for the “friendly settlement” of border and maritime issues with the neighbors, the spokesman said, “We have always taken the course of negotiations and understanding in connection with the exploitation of the joint (oil and gas) fields.”
His remarks came after Kuwaiti oil minister Saad Al Barrak said that the Arab country’s plans for production from the field will not wait for border demarcation with Iran.
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia announced in early 2022 that they had reached an agreement to jointly produce 1 billion cubic feet (28.3 million cubic meters) per day of natural gas and 84,000 barrels per day of condensates from Arash field, also known as Durra.
That caused Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji to post a tweet at the time to say that Iran will soon install a drilling jacket at Arash field to resume development operations that had been halted in 2001 after Kuwait threatened to lodge a complaint against Iran in international courts.
The maritime border demarcation dispute between Iran and Kuwait dates back to more than 60 years ago.
Some estimates suggest more than 70% of the resources of the disputed gas field, which is believed to contain up to 60 trillion cubic feet (1.7 trillion cubic meters) of gas, lie in waters claimed by Iran under the dispute with Kuwait.