Iran Says No Ultimatum over South Pars

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran has not issued an ultimatum to Total and Royal Dutch Shell over the development of its giant South Pars gas field, Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari said on Friday.

“Iran has issued no ultimatum to Total and Shell on the development of offshore South Pars gas field,” MNA reported, citing Nozari.

“The presence of these companies in the South Pars phases of 11 and 13 is being carried out as per schedule,” he was quoted as saying.

“The West argues that Iran is expelling Total and Shell … no ultimatum has been issued to them.”

Shell and Total have said rising industry costs had delayed their multi-billion dollar investments in Iran’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, which would be fed by the South Pars field.