Japanese oil refiners Cosmo Oil Co and Japan Energy Corp. have started paying Iran for crude oil imports in yen instead of dollars, company spokesmen said Tuesday.

According to statements made Sept. 27 by the Turkish Minister of Energy Hilmi Guler, Ankara and Tehran plan to sign an accord this month on the exploitation of the natural gas reserves of South Pars on the southern Iranian coast.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Azerbaijan will sign an agreement on mutual cooperation in protection of cultural heritage, Azeri Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev said.