The Arash (referred to as Durra by Kuwait) gas field in the northern Persian Gulf symbolizes Iran’s potential in the energy sector, boasting an estimated 220 billion cubic meters of gas. Despite the territorial dispute with Kuwait over the field’s extent, Iran’s claim to a significant portion within its territorial waters underlines its strategic energy reserves. The yet undefined maritime borders add complexity, but the delineation established with Saudi Arabia lays groundwork for future resolutions. Iran’s position on the Arash field emphasizes the country’s substantial stake in the region’s energy landscape and its pivotal role in meeting both regional and international gas demands.
“Iran argues that, according to principles of international law and the concept of the continental shelf, the main significant part of the Arash/Durra gas field rightfully belongs to it.”
This stance is rooted in legal frameworks that determine national territories and their extensions under the sea, suggesting that Iran’s claim to a portion of the field has a basis in recognized legal concepts. Such arguments underscore the complexity of the dispute and highlight the necessity for careful legal examination and international dialogue to resolve the competing claims over this strategically significant natural resource.
The Durra/Arash natural gas field, situated in the contentious waters of the northern Persian Gulf, is an asset of considerable value, claimed by both Kuwait and Iran. Iran, which refers to the field as Arash, maintains that a significant portion of the field stretches into its territorial waters. The unresolved maritime borders between Kuwait and Iran further complicate this matter, despite previously settled boundaries between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Kuwait, alongside Saudi Arabia, counters Iran’s claims by arguing the entirety of the field falls within their shared neutral zone. This complex geopolitical entanglement underscores the broader regional tensions and the pressing need for a diplomatic resolution. Negotiations and international arbitration could be pathways to a peaceful and equitable settlement that respects the sovereignty and economic interests of the involved countries while also considering regional stability and the strategic importance of the Persian Gulf’s energy resources.