Tehran, Iran, Dec.18
Trend:
The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) announced that no contract has been signed between Iran oil industry and Russian oil company Rosneft , therefore the rumors of Rosneft quitting the Iran oil industry has no justification, NIOC said in a statement, Trend reports via IRNA.
Russian business daily "Vedomosti" recently quoted three sources close to Rosneft’s top management that Russia’s largest oil producer has decided to halt projects in Iran, along with possibility of $30 billion worth of joint Russian-Iranian investments in oil and gas projects in Iran, due to US sanctions.
NIOC reacted to the rumors, saying the company has only signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Russia's Rosneft and there was no contract between two parties.
"Due to high interest of foreign companies after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and in order to attract foreign investment and technology, the National Iranian Oil Company signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Rosneft for cooperation," the NIOC stated.
"Iran signed some MOUs with foreign companies after implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, that would be transformed into a contract after legal procedures. However, the memorandum with Rosneft never reached the contract stage," the company's message said.
After implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Russian Gazprom, Rosneft , Lukoil, Zarubejneft and Tatneft companies have signed memorandums to join Iran oil projects.