LONDON — Iran and Japan plan to discuss a $2 billion oil development project.

Officials said the two countries have agreed on talks to develop Iran's Azadegan oil field. They said the project was held up for years amid U.S. opposition to Japanese participation.

"For Japan, the Azadegan oil field project is of importance and due to the same reason it is considering ways to ensure progress in the talks," Iranian Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsutoshi Kaneda said on Sept. 15.

Japan has been a leading customer of Iran and invested billions of dollars in the Middle East nation. Kaneda said the Azadegan project would not affect Japan's position toward Iran's nuclear program, Middle East Newsline reported.