Iran’s share of disputed gas field claimed by Kuwait is 40%: IRGC commander

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 10 May 2025 6:13 PM

A senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says that Iran’s share of a gas field in the Persian Gulf, which straddles the undemarcated borders with Kuwait, is around 40%.

Brigadier General Abdorreza Abed, who leads the IRGC’s construction arm, said on Saturday that Iran is waiting for the conclusion of diplomatic efforts with neighboring Kuwait to start development works at Arash gas field, which is known in Kuwait as Durra.

“Iran’s share in the Arash field, which is more or less than 40%, should be secured … so that production can start in the field,” Abed said, according to remarks carried by the state TV.

The remarks come nearly three years after Iran reacted to reports that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia had agreed to develop the Arash gas field without considering a share for Iran.

Tehran moved one of its production platforms to waters hosting the field in early 2022 and said it would start drilling if Kuwait does not respect its rights to the reservoir.

Some expert reports suggest that more than 70% of the resources of the disputed gas field, which is believed to contain up to 60 trillion cubic feet (1.7 trillion cubic meters) of gas, lie in waters claimed by Iran under the maritime border dispute with Kuwait.

Abed rejected Kuwait and Saudi Arabia’s claims that they have exclusive rights in the field, saying the reservoir is a joint one and Iran does have a share in it.

He said the IRGC’s construction arm, as a major contractor working in petroleum projects in Iran, would continue to pursue the case as he insisted that Kuwait has not yet launched a full-scale project to develop the field.