Iran urges Kuwait to jointly develop disputed gas field

Iran has proposed to Kuwait that the two Opec countries together develop the disputed Arash natural gas field in the Gulf, a senior official was quoted as saying yesterday.

"Iran has proposed that development, investment, production and management… be done on a joint basis by the parties involved," said Mahmoud Zirakchianzadeh, head of the state Offshore Oil Company. Kuwait was expected to "accept Iran's idea of joint development of the field", he said, according to the Oil Ministry website Shana.

Zirakchianzadeh added: "The Iran Offshore Oil Company has raised the proposal of 'partnership instead of competition' for the development of this [Arash] as well as other joint hydrocarbon fields."

Kuwait and Iran dispute the ownership of Arash natural gas field.

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