Iran said it has received interest from U.S. companies to
bid on new oil contracts in the Islamic republic.
Iranian officials said several unnamed U.S. companies have relayed
interest to participate in the tender for 16 oil blocks. The project is
being headed by the state-owned National Iranian Oil Co. and the deadline
for bids is July 10, Middle East Newsline reported.
The company's director, Mohammad Mohaddes, said the U.S. companies
discussed their desire to participate in the tender during a seminar in
January in the Netherlands. The U.S. government and companies cannot engage
with foreign firms that invest more than $20 million in Iran's energy
sector.
"There is no problem on the side of Iran for the presence of American
oil companies in these plans," Mohaddes said.
