Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Reiterate Claim Over Gas Field Shared With Iran

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reaffirmed Thursday that they jointly own rights to a gas and oil field in the western Persian Gulf called Durra, also partially claimed by Iran.

The official Saudi news agency SPA cited the foreign ministry as saying that both countries are renewing calls for Iran to engage in negotiations on the demarcation of the eastern border of the Gulf's maritime "Divided Area," SPA said.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will negotiate as one party, with Iran acting as the other side in the talks "in accordance with the provisions of international law," the Saudi foreign ministry added.

Iran has previously said it has a stake in the Durra field and called a Saudi-Kuwaiti agreement signed last year to develop it "illegal."

Called Arash in Iran and Durra or Dorra by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait -- the offshore field was discovered in 1967 and is estimated to have a total proven reserves of around 310 million barrels of oil and 20 trillion cubic feet of gas.

Iran said on Sunday it would pursue its rights over the field if other parties shunned cooperation, a few days after Kuwait's oil minister said his country would start drilling and begin production without waiting for border demarcation with Iran.

“If there is no willingness to cooperate, Iran will pursue its rights and benefits, including the exploitation and exploration of the Arash gas field, and will not tolerate any violation of its rights,” Javad Owji said July 30.

Tehran re-established diplomatic relations with Riyadh in March after a 7-year period of tensions, but the dispute over the energy field can create new complications.