Five South Pars Phases To Come on Stream

Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi told reporters today in Tehran that five phases of the South Pars gas field will come on stream by the end of September despite U.S. sanctions against Iran. Qasemi added that a large proportion of equipment required for the development of 17 phases of the giant gas field is now being supplied by domestic manufactures. (IRNA/Press TV, 5 July)

The South Pars gas field is located in the Persian Gulf straddling the common border between Iran and Qatar. It is estimated that the field contains 14 trillion cubic meters of gas and 18 billion barrels of condensates. The gas production projects in Iran’s Pars Special Economic Energy Zone have been divided into 28 phases

Photo credit: Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi (IRNA)

Iran Says Sanctions Are Not Affecting Oil Production

Iranian oil minister Rostam Qasemi said today its oil exports are down by 20 percent but asserted Iran is still producing the same amount of crude despite international sanctions. (AP, 31 May)

Qasemi made the comments in Vienna before attending a meeting OPEC’s oil ministers’ meeting. The ministers are to decide today if they wanted to keep the crude production target of 30 million barrels a day.

Reports by oil export research groups, as well as debates in Iranian parliament on the country’s next year’s budget, have indicated that Iran has lost at least half its crude exports in the past twelve months. The crude production has also been estimated at 2.5 million barrels a day — about 1.5 million barrels less than before the sanctions.

There is a definite disconnect between these figures and Qasemi’s insistence that the production levels are same as before the sanctions and the exports have been cut by just 20 percent. If true, Iran must have been exporting more than 30 percent of its crude through means other than oil tankers and to destinations unknown to the world. Or Qasemi could have decided to “expediently” not reporting all the facts.

Photo credit: Iran’s Minister of Petroleum Rostam Qhasemi talks to journalists in Vienna ahead of OPEC ministerial meeting. (Hans Punz/Associated Press)

Iran, Iraq Main Rivals for OPEC Presidency – Oil Minister

Iran and Iraq will be in tight race for the post of the Secretary General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) if Saudi Arabia withdraws its candidacy as expected, said Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi.


“Saudi Arabia's firm decision to withdraw its candidacy for the post of OPEC Secretary-General has not yet been announced, but it seems that Iran and Iraq are stronger candidates for the post than Saudi Arabia,” Qasemi said in a press conference in Tehran today. “I have heard some news that Saudi Arabia wants to retreat his nominee from the upcoming Secretary-General election.”  (Fars News Agency, 20 April)

Iran will introduce its former oil minister Qolam Hossein Nozari for the post. Iraq’s candidate if also its former oil minister Thamer Ghadban. The Saudis were originally expected to nominate Majid Moneef, the country's former representative on OPEC's governing board.  

Iraq's reconstruction of its oil industry after Saddam has thrust it back into the ranks of major producers and generally sides with Iran in the cartel to increase prices. The Saudis exert moderation in price hikes to avoid disruptions in the market.

File photo: OPEC HQ in Vienna (AFP)

Quds Force General Killed in Syria

First Iranian General Killed in Syrian Conflict

Lebanon’s al-Manar TV today reported that a senior commander of IRGC was killed in recent days in Syria. The television channel run by the Hezbollah did not disclose the name of the slain commander. Iran’s pro-government news website mashreghnews.ir, however, identified the Iranian officer as IRGC Brig. Gen. Hassan Shateri, a Quds Force commander. The website said that the general was in charge of an Iranian agency responsible for “rebuilding Lebanon.”

Mashreghnews.ir said Quds Force Commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani visited Shateri's family to express his condolences.

This is the first time a senior Iranian commander is killed in Syria. The Quds Force is responsible for IRGC’s extraterritorial operations. The organization has also been accused of terrorist activities outside Iran. Its commander, Gen. Qasemi, reports directly to Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader.

File photo: The late Brig. Gen. Hassan Shateri of Quds Force (mashreghnews.ir)