08 March, 2010Iran ready to export gas to Bahrain, Oman
Iran has said it was prepared to supply gas to Bahrain and Oman after holding negotiations with the officials of the two Arab Gulf states.
“Considering the results of the meetings and negotiations with Bahraini and Omani officials, I believe that in case the demanding sides announce the final and definite views, Iran will be ready to export gas to the two aforementioned countries,” Deputy Oil Minister Hojjatollah Qanimifard told Fars News Agency (FNA).
Qanimifard also reiterated that Iran, as one side of the contract for exporting gas to Oman has already informed the Omani officials of its preparedness to materialise all issues agreed between the two countries in this regard.
On Iran’s gas exports to Bahrain, he said that the issue was discussed in recent talks among Iranian, Russian and Bahraini oil and energy ministers in Doha.
Tehran and Manama officials discussed export of Iran’s gas to the Arab country during a visit by a Bahraini delegation to Tehran in early February. The delegation, headed by Bahraini Deputy Oil Minister Faisal Al Mahrous held the fifth round of technical talks on the export of Iran’s gas to the country.
Iranian officials had said in February 2009 that despite reports that Manama had suspended talks with Tehran, Iran and Bahrain would continue negotiations on the natural gas deal.
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmad Al Khalifa also dismissed rumors about the alleged halt in Tehran-Manama negotiations for buying Iran’s natural Gas.
“The agreement for transferring Iranian gas to Bahrain enjoys a long background and negotiations between the two sides’ delegations are underway in accordance with the premeditated schedule,” Sheikh Khaled told reporters in Manama.
Meanwhile, 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 on Saturday.
“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, but Iranian state media last November said the two countries called for “cooperation in connection to the resolution of the continental shelf issue.” Kuwait, a Sunni-led US ally, and predominantly Shi’ite Iran, a long-time foe of Washington, are both members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
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