Iran, Iraq to form teams to develop joint oil fields

"The negotiations on the development of joint fields between Iran and Iraq have moved forward and we have attained good conclusions," Zeiqami told FNA on Wednesday. After the negotiations the two countries decided to form two teams to study the development of two joint oil fields, he said, and raised the possibility that Iran and Iraq might start work on one of these fields in February 2012. Tehran and Baghdad had in August 2011 worked out an agreement to develop joint oil fields at the two countries' shared borders. "We are waiting for the Iraqis to be prepared for inking the deal," Fakour said at the time. Earlier, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi had underlined that the development of Iran's Joint Oil and Gas fields sets the main priority for his ministry. Speaking in a meeting with directors of the oil and gas companies active in the South Pars region, the oil minister said that development of joint oil and gas fields is the first priority of the oil ministry in both land and sea border regions Also in 2011, Tehran and Baghdad agreed to set up joint expert committees to finalize technical and financial details of a deal over developing joint oil fields. The two countries have 23 joint oil fields in their border regions.