عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Gulf

Kuwait Rejects Iranian ‘Claims, Measures’ Regarding Durra Gas Field

The Durra gas field is located within the maritime areas of Kuwait (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Durra gas field is located within the maritime areas of Kuwait (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Kuwait Rejects Iranian ‘Claims, Measures’ Regarding Durra Gas Field

The Durra gas field is located within the maritime areas of Kuwait (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Durra gas field is located within the maritime areas of Kuwait (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Kuwait has officially declared its rejection of Iranian “claims and measures” planned for the rich offshore “Durra” gas field

Kuwait Oil Minister Saad Al-Barrak said his country “categorically and totally” rejected Iranian procedures and claims on the Durra offshore gas field in the neutral zone connecting Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Only Kuwait and Saudi Arabia own “exclusive rights” to the field, the minister said in a statement.

Kuwait was “surprised” by Tehran’s plans and intentions, which “contravene the basic principles of international relations”, the minister underlined.

The Arab Gulf country’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that the maritime area where the Durra gas field is located falls within Kuwait’s territorial waters.

The natural resources in this area are jointly shared between Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with both countries having exclusive rights to the natural resources in the Durra field, affirmed the ministry.

A source at the ministry stated on Monday that Kuwait has re-invited the Iranian side to initiate talks for demarcating maritime borders.

On March 21, 2022, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to develop the Durra field, aiming to exploit its rich gas reserves for daily production of one billion standard cubic feet of natural gas and 84,000 barrels of condensates, which will be shared between the two countries.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, inked the deal with his Kuwaiti counterpart.

The two agreed on setting up Al-Khafji Joint Operations Co., a joint venture (JV) between Aramco Gulf Operations Co. and Kuwait Gulf Oil Co. (KGOC).

They also agreed to select a consultant to conduct the engineering studies necessary to develop the field, as per the best techniques and topnotch technologies and practices that take into account safety, health and environmental preservation, as well as the development of the most efficient and effective engineering designs in terms of capital and operations.

For its part, Iran claimed that the document signed between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to develop the Durra gas field was “illegal” since Tehran also has a share in the field and must be included in any action to operate and develop the field.

 

Most Viewed

 
 
Gulf

Gulf-EU Summit Calls for ‘Immediate Ceasefire’ in Gaza, Lebanon

European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud stand as they pose for a family photo during the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels, Belgium October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud stand as they pose for a family photo during the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels, Belgium October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
TT
TT

Gulf-EU Summit Calls for ‘Immediate Ceasefire’ in Gaza, Lebanon

European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud stand as they pose for a family photo during the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels, Belgium October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud stand as they pose for a family photo during the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels, Belgium October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron

The leaders of the European Union and six Gulf nations held an inaugural summit Wednesday, encompassing everything from visas and trade to the situation in the Middle East.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was in Brussels for the summit.

A joint statement said the leaders committed to the EU-GCC Strategic Partnership and pledged to elevate it to the next level. “We agree to build our Strategic Partnership, based on mutual respect and trust, for the benefit of the people of our regions and beyond,” it said.

On Gaza, the EU and Gulf leaders called for “an immediate, full and complete ceasefire, the release of hostages, the exchange of the Palestinian prisoners as well as immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to civilian population, including the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza strip to all Palestinian civilians who need it.”

They also reaffirmed their “unwavering commitment to the realization of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination through the Two-State solution where Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, along the 1967 lines, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.”

The leaders expressed deep concern over the Israeli military operations in the West Bank, and called for their immediate end. They also strongly condemned the ongoing extremist settler violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

On Lebanon, they called for an “immediate ceasefire” and stressed the need to implement Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls on Hezbollah to withdraw to the north of Litani river.

They condemned all attacks against UN missions and expressed particularly “grave concerns” regarding the recent Israeli attacks against peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

At the summit, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said: “Reviving the peace process in the Middle East to fulfil the Palestinian people's aspirations for establishing an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders, remains the sole path to achieving security and stability in the region.”

"While we express our deep sorrow and frustration over the atrocities inflicted upon our Palestinian brothers and sisters, we reaffirm the GCC's long-standing position advocating for an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian relief teams” to the Gaza Strip.

“We categorically reject the forced displacement of civilians in Gaza and stress the need to adhere to international law and humanitarian law. This mandates that we take necessary measures to advance collective efforts to halt this war and pressure Israel to permit humanitarian aid to reach the Palestinian people," Albudaiwi said.

He added that the failure to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza has led to escalating tensions in Palestinian territories and a spillover of conflict into Lebanon.

On Iran, the summit’s statement called on the country “to pursue regional de-escalation” and said: "We share a clear determination that Iran must never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon.”

The leaders also demanded that the Iran-backed “Houthis halt attacks against vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, release crew and avoid any further escalatory measures that threaten global security and stability.”