Iran will go it alone if Kuwait rejects accord

Iran said yesterday that it would launch full-scale unilateral development of the disputed offshore Arash gas field in the Gulf if Kuwait does not respond to its offer of joint development, according to the official Irna news agency. "Our emphasis presently is on joint partnership strategy rather than competition, and we are hopeful to reach a conclusion with Kuwait over the development of the shared Arash field," the agency quoted Mahmoud Zirakchianzadeh, the head of state Offshore Oil Company, as saying. He said Iran's policy on shared oil and gas fields is partnership rather than confrontation. But "if Iran's positive diplomacy is turned down, we will be carrying on our efforts at Arash field unilaterally just as we did in Hengam oil field," Zirakchianzadeh said, using stronger language than Iran has used previously in the dispute. Article continues below Iran is developing its part of the offshore Hengam oil field, shared with Oman, on its own. Zirakchianzadeh said Iran has already launched its "operational activities" on the development and production at Arash and was not dragging its feet in anticipation of Kuwait's response. The Arash gas field is located on Iran-Kuwait's water border and it is called Dorra in the Kuwait part of the field.