TEHRAN - Nasser Kana’ani, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry has invited the Kuwaiti government to the table of technical and expert negotiations to solve the Arash gas field issue, Shana reported.

“The only solution to this issue is the technical and legal dialogue between the two sides without resorting to media controversies,” Kana’ani said.

The development of bilateral relations with the neighboring and Arab countries of the region and the creation of a positive and constructive atmosphere in bilateral and multilateral dialogues with the neighboring countries requires additional steps to be taken to improve the level of multilateral cooperation, he said.

“About the Arash gas field, our stance is clear. The maritime borders between Iran and Kuwait have not been determined, and we cannot say anything about their share in the ownership of Arash field,” the official noted.

The two sides have had nine rounds of legal negotiations with each other in this regard and the follow-ups to determine the border limits are continuing, he said, stressing that the only solution to this problem is the technical and legal dialogue between the Iranian and Kuwaiti delegations without resorting to media controversies.

“Iran, while emphasizing its goodwill with neighboring countries, invites the Kuwaiti government to return to the table of technical and expert negotiations to reach a stable agreement that will secure the interests of both sides,” he finally stated.

Back in April, Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed new assertions by Kuwait of exclusive rights to the entirety of the Arash gas field in the Persian Gulf.

This was in reaction to a joint statement by Kuwait and Jordan following a meeting between their leaders, which underscored the gas field, Durra as they call it, is situated within the Kuwaiti territorial waters, with all its resources belonging to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

In a statement, Kan’ani dismissed the remarks as invalid and said the unilateral assertion of such claims does not create any right for the claimant.

"We urge Kuwait to avoid the incorrect path of media hype on this matter and instead return to technical and legal negotiations, which is the best and most appropriate way to address the issue.”

"Based on historical rights and the record of joint negotiations, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to continue discussions within a framework that ensures respect for mutual interests."

The spokesman emphasized Iran’s adherence to the principle of good faith in regional interactions and stressed the need to avoid the involvement of third-party states in this matter.

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