TEHRAN - Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday that unilateral claims on the joint Arash gas field in the Persian Gulf will not create any rights for the claimant.

Iran has repeatedly announced its principled stance on the issue based on international law, underlined Nasser Kanaani.

The spokesman made the remarks during his weekly press conference in reaction to a statement issued by the Ministerial Council of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, which claims only Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have the right to exploit the field, known as Al-Dorra in the two Arab states.

“We have emphasized the continuation of technical and legal talks with the Kuwaiti officials,” he pointed out.

Iran tries to create a positive and constructive atmosphere to develop its relations with neighbors, said Kanaani, adding raising such issues in one-sided statements is not acceptable at all.

Against the backdrop of regional tensions, the Arash gas field in the Persian Gulf has become a longstanding point of contention between Iran and Kuwait, both asserting ownership of this source. In March 2022, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to jointly develop the Durra field, known as Arash in Iran. Iran promptly objected, deeming it "illegal" and asserting plans for independent development.

The gas field, discovered in 1967 on the eastern maritime border of Kuwait, remains a source of dispute as Iran claims the field extends into its waters. Estimates suggest over 70 percent of the resources of the disputed gas field lie in waters claimed by Iran. Despite years of diplomatic talks, Iran and Kuwait have not reached an agreement on their disputed maritime border area, which is rich in natural gas. The prolonged negotiations have yet to yield a resolution, highlighting the complexities surrounding this strategically significant region.

EF/