Iran has predictably objected to last week’s bilateral Saudi-Kuwait agreement to pursue joint development of the offshore Dorra gas field (MEES, 25 March). Saudi and Kuwait say the field is situated in their Partitioned Neutral Zone (PNZ), with planned output of 1bn cfd gas and 84,000 b/d condensate to be shared equally. However, Iran claims Dorra extends into Iranian waters, where it is known as Arash.
Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh on 26 March slammed the Saudi/Kuwait plans as “illegal.” “Arash/Dorra is a joint gas field between Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, parts of which are located in areas between Iran and Kuwait,” he says, adding that “maritime boundaries have yet to be defined.” “Iran stands ready to enter into talks” to discuss development, he adds. Iranian support for Yemen Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia are a major complicating factor (MEES, 25 March). (CONTINUED - 144 WORDS)