Iran’s claim to Arash gas field indisputable
The Kuwaiti authorities’ uncooperative stance regarding the shared gas field between Iran, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia has once again brought to the forefront the disagreements between Tehran and Kuwait City.
Kuwaiti Oil Minister Saad Al-Barrak made an unusual assertion, rejecting Iran’s planned activities around the premises of the Arash offshore gas field.
Barrak said he was surprised by the Iranian plan and added that the move “contradicts the basic principles of international relations”.
A close source to Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry said that the maritime area where the field lies is part of Kuwait’s sea territories, and “the natural resources therein are shared between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia”.
The source added that “only” Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have “exclusive rights” to the natural resources of the field.
The Arash gas field, also known as “Al-Durra” by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, was initially discovered by a Japanese oil company back in 1960. This field is shared between Iran and the neutral zone situated between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. According to the previously determined border limits, approximately 40% of the Arash field’s oil and gas reserves lie within Iranian waters.
However, over the past decade, Kuwait, relying on seismic surveys conducted by Shell, has defined a new border line that places the entire Arash field within its Arab sector. Tehran does not accept this maritime border set by Kuwait.
Consequently, the disputes between Iran and Kuwait over their maritime boundaries have hindered the exploitation of this significant field. It is estimated that the shared field holds around 368 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves and approximately 310 million barrels of oil reserves.
In March of last year, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement for the development of this gas field, excluding Iran’s participation, which provoked Iran’s objections. At the time, Iran’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that, in accordance with international regulations and procedures, any activities related to the exploitation and development of this field should be carried out through coordination and cooperation among all three countries
At a time when the de-escalation process in the region was expected to facilitate the resolution of legal and border disputes through technical negotiations, Kuwait’s recent position has further complicated the utilization of vast oil and gas resources.
Disputes not political
Mohammad Irani, who previously served as Iran’s ambassador to Kuwait until a few months ago, highlighted in an interview with “Iran Daily” the long-standing and contentious issue of maritime boundary delineation and the division of the Arash gas field between Iran and Kuwait. Irani emphasized that this matter has a history of over a decade and is not rooted in good neighborly relations or political dynamics.
According to Irani, border disputes are common among many neighboring countries, and the disagreement between Tehran and Kuwait City is primarily a matter of legality and technicalities, rather than a political dispute.
The former envoy further explained that over the past decade, delegations from Iran and Kuwait have engaged in joint meetings on this issue 7 or 8 times. The most recent meeting took place in Tehran about 4 months ago, but unfortunately, it did not yield a mutually satisfactory outcome.
“The nature of the dispute between the two countries is so heavily grounded in legal and technical aspects that both Iran and Kuwait sought assistance from international institutions specializing in border delimitation. However, these institutions and companies have yet to reach a resolution for the ongoing dispute,” Irani stated.
He emphasized that the gas field in question is a shared resource among all three countries, and until the dispute between Iran and Kuwait is effectively resolved, no party should unilaterally invest in or exploit the field.
The former ambassador noted that the legal and technical differences between the two nations should not be seen within the context of political relations. “Instead, both sides should strive to reach a satisfactory resolution through continued technical and legal talks in order to benefit from the substantial resources available in this gas field.”
New opportunity for joint venture
Nersi Qorban, an energy expert and university professor, expressed his disagreement with the legal and logical position taken by Kuwait in an interview with “Iran Daily.” He believes that the historical records of the past few decades clearly indicate that the Arash gas field is situated within the waters between Iran and the neutral zone shared by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Drawing on past experiences and the unilateral actions taken by parties to exploit this gas field, the professor emphasized that these actions were neither favorable nor beneficial for any of the three countries involved. According to Qorban, engaging in unilateral actions and attempting to exclude one party from the gas field only serves to escalate tensions.
He noted that the recent shift in the regional political landscape, particularly the normalization of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, has created a favorable opportunity for countries in the region, including Iran and Kuwait, to resolve their differences through technical dialogue and avoid further delays in developing the shared field.
Qorban argued that due to Saudi Arabia’s demand for gas resources and the significant distance between the gas field and Iran’s land borders, which poses challenges in terms of building infrastructure for resource transportation and attracting investors due to sanctions on Tehran, the best approach would be a joint venture among the three countries for the exploitation and development of the field.
According to the expert, Iran can contribute the necessary capital for joint operations by selling gas directly to Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the professor suggested that Iran and Kuwait could seek the assistance of reputable international companies and institutions to determine their maritime boundaries and resolve the dispute.
In light of several decades of history concerning the Arash or Al-Durra gas field, it is evident that the field has been shared between Iran and Kuwait since its discovery in 1960. Unilateral actions have only fueled misunderstandings, disputes, and obstacles to its exploitation. The notion that Iran, due to disputes with Western countries and sanctions, is relinquishing its interests in this gas field and forfeiting its rights is a fallacious idea.