Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reaffirmed on Wednesday that the natural resources in the divided submerged area in the Arabian Gulf, including the entire Durra gas field, is jointly owned by the two countries.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait hold exclusive and full sovereign rights to exploit the wealth in that area, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait also renewed their previous and repeated calls to Iran to negotiate the eastern border of the submerged area divided between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. They proposed that the negotiations involve Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as one party and Iran as the other party, adhering to international law and principles of good neighborliness, the statement added.

Through this reaffirmation of joint ownership and the call for diplomatic negotiations, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait aim to settle the matter peacefully and in accordance with international legal principles and mutual respect for each other’s territorial rights.

The Al-Durra gas field is an offshore natural gas field located in the neutral zone between Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iran. Tehran said earlier this week that it will pursue its rights over the Durra/Arash field if other parties shun cooperation. But, Riyadh and Kuwait reject Tehran’s claims over the area.

Kuwait Oil Minister Saad Al-Barrak told SkyNews Arabia on Thursday that his country will start drilling and begin production at the Durra gas field without waiting for border demarcation with Iran.