US firms knocking at Iran doors

Some of these agreements which are proof of Iran’s success in attracting international investment were the deal with a French energy giant Total-led consortium comprising China’s CNPCI and Iran’s Petropars for the development of Phase 11 of South Pars gas field, agreement with a consortium of Russia’s Zarubezhneft with Iran’s Dana Energy for the development of Aban and West Paydar oil fields, agreement for the development of Sepehr and Jofair oil fields with Pasargad Energy Development Company, South Korean companies’ agreement to build refineries in Iran and develop South Pars, agreement with a Spanish-Iranian consortium for manufacturing corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) pipes, resumption of gas swap with Turkmenistan and Iran-Azerbaijan agreement to jointly develop two oil blocks in the Caspian Sea.

In parallel with foregoing agreements, other major companies have expressed interest in Iran’s petroleum industry. One of them is Russia’s giant Rosneft which had earlier signed a $ 30 billion outline agreement for several strategic oil and gas projects in Iran.

All these events indicate that Iran’s petroleum industry advantages are not hidden to any major oil company.

The international energy market and Iran’s oil and gas could not be easily swayed by the Trump administration’s threats and political ploys. The world needs more and more energy as industries grow and Iran, which sits atop the world’s largest hydrocarbon reserves, remains a major player in this market.

In crisis-stricken Middle East region, which remains the hub of energy production, Iran remains a safe island capable of guaranteeing the future of energy market. This issue has not been ignored by oil and gas consumers and proprietors of capital and technology in the world.

Iran’s petroleum minister, Bijan Zangeneh, recently said the country would need billions of dollars in investment in addition to technology. He noted that international companies, including American firms, would be welcome.

The Trump administration’s policies and unilateral sanctions have harmed US oil companies rather than Iran, and have given rise to conditions blocking their involvement in Iran’s petroleum sector.

It is the energy market, but not politics, that will decide for the country’s needs and economic factors. Every politician thinking otherwise is totally Greek to foresight.

* Director general of Iran's Petroleum Ministry's Public Relations Office

Source: Iran Petroleum

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