Iran's 17th International Oil, Gas, Refining, and Petrochemical Exhibition will start on Tuesday, IRNA reported.
The event was to kick off today but the inauguration ceremony was delayed due to the heavy rainfall in the capital which hampered the preparations.
The exhibition which will start April 18 in presence of several high ranking Iranian officials is to last for four days. Companies form 44 countries would participate in the exhibition.
The presence of foreign companies comes despite the Western countries sanctions on Iranian oil industry.
Of more than 1,255 Iranian and foreign companies which voiced interest in participating in the exhibition, 940 domestic and 315 foreign companies will take part in the event.
"Despite the international sanctions on Iran, the number of the countries participating in this year's exhibition has increased by about 10 percent compared to the last year," Es'haq Rouyvar, the director of the 17th Iran oil show said on Monday.
Participation of several international oil companies from the USA, Germany, the UK, Italy, South Korea, Malaysia and Norway in the exhibition indicates the importance of Iran oil industry in international arenas, he said.
On January 23, EU foreign ministers approved sanctions against Tehran, including a ban on Iranian oil imports.
Edited by: S. Isayev