Iran said it had no objections to US companies interested in investing in its oil and gas sector, currently blocked because of US sanctions designed to block foreign investment in the Islamic republic's petroleum industry.
"There is no obstacle for American companies to work in Iran's oil and gas industry," Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Mohammad Mohaddes, the head of the exploration division of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), said a week ago that several unnamed US firms have expressed interest in tenders for 16 recently discovered oil blocks during a commercial forum last month in the Netherlands.
"There is no problem on the side of Iran for the presence of American oil companies in these plans," he said, adding that firms had until until April 10 to buy tender documents and until July 10 to submit their bids for the 25-year contracts.
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