Iran Chides Kuwait for One-Sided Claims on Arash Field
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry reminded Kuwait that one-sided statements on the Arash oil and gas field, which is shared among Iran and its southwestern neighbors, would obstruct the settlement of issues on the basis of mutual interests.
In a statement on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani reacted to a joint statement from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait following a visit by the Kuwaiti emir to Riyadh.
He reiterated that Iran is ready to continue bilateral negotiations with Kuwait in line with the results of the previous talks over exploiting the joint hydrocarbon resources in the Arash field and demarcation of the maritime borders, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported.
The spokesman added that the issue was stressed in the last round of negotiations in March 2023 in Tehran.
Underscoring the principle of good neighborliness and the importance of the Iranian government’s policy of bolstering ties with the neighbors, Kanaani said Iran believes that an agreement on this case can be reached through constructive cooperation and interaction and with due respect for the interests of the two countries.
He added that making unilateral claims in various statements and through media outlets does not provide a suitable space for managing and addressing the issue based on mutual interests.
The spokesman reaffirmed Iran’s readiness to continue technical talks in a friendly atmosphere with the aim of finding a mutually acceptable solution.
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, known as Durra in Kuwait.
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 the Iranian waters.
