In spite of continuous affirmations from Iranian officials about the priority of cooperating with the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council as part of the Iranian government's policies in the near future, there's a serious geopolitical litmus test that awaits these intentions. Testing Iranian intentions is matters for a reason: Tehran's actions since 1979 contradict its statements. Talk of good neighborliness and the pursuit of regional security and stability isn't just empty rhetoric in Iranian politics; rather, it's a recurring theme deeply ingrained in Iranian political literature for many years and decades.
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Therefore, the new phase of coming together across the Gulf's shores faces a real trial, represented by Iran's stance on demarcating maritime borders, particularly concerning the Darrah field.
Recently, Kuwait made a declaration stating that "Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are standing together as one negotiating party against Iran to define the maritime borders, and we have exclusive rights to the natural resources in the Dora field." An official source from Kuwait confirmed that "the maritime area containing the Dora field falls within Kuwait's maritime zone, and the natural resources in it are shared between Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both of whom hold exclusive rights to the natural resources in the Dora field."
Back in March 2022, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to jointly develop the field, why Saudi Arabia supported Kuwait in rejecting Iran's claims to the natural gas reserves in this field.
On the other hand, the CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company, Mohsen Khojasteh-Mehr, announced that his company has started preparing to begin operations in the Dora field. He mentioned that Tehran made this decision because Riyadh and Kuwait weren't ready to negotiate on the matter.
This move shows that Iran hasn't changed much, and those who bet on big changes in Iranian behavior and policies are taking a risk by banking on a party that remains firmly entrenched behind its own interests. It disregards the interests, positions, and national sovereignty of others within their territories, territorial waters, and maritime boundaries.
Iran's official readiness to start exploration in the Dora field puts it directly in conflict with the Saudi and Kuwaiti positions. Tehran has repeatedly emphasized that there are no shared rights under dispute with the Saudi side specifically and that all maritime borders with Saudi Arabia have been clearly defined. Iran doesn't mention the Dora field at all and insists it falls within its economic zone.
In the meantime, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted a well-informed source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying, ownership of the natural resources in the "divided submerged area," including the entire Durra field, is joint ownership between the kingdom and the State of Kuwait only. They alone have complete sovereign rights to exploit the resources in that area.
The kingdom, added the source, renews its previous calls to the Iranian side to start negotiations to define the eastern boundary of the submerged area, divided between the kingdom and Kuwait, as a joint negotiating party, and Iran.
All international disputes have rules and principles for handling them, and differences in these cases cannot be resolved through force or imposing the status quo, as Iran attempts to do in other regional issues, most notably the subject of the three Emirati islands (Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa), which it currently occupies. Iran adamantly insists that these islands are an "inseparable part of Iran," completely ignoring all legal and historical documents and evidence that confirm the UAE's rightful ownership of these islands.
Iran is attempting to apply the same approach to the Dora field and now finds itself confronting the new geopolitical reality. Its relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries have returned to what is supposed to be their natural course, as official relations have been reestablished through various channels and mechanisms between Tehran and its Gulf neighbors. However, Iran's unwavering stance on what it claims to be its rights in this field puts recent developments to the test of Iranian intentions and seriousness in moving forward and initiating a new chapter focused on regional cooperation and promoting shared interests.
In my opinion, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries do not want to instigate any regional dispute or conflict with Iran regarding the Dora field or any other matter. However, at the same time, they are eager to protect their rightful claims and national interests. The entire issue can be addressed within the framework of international laws that govern states' sovereign maritime rights. The matter cannot be resolved through making claims and giving in to demands.
Therefore, it is expected that the Iranian side would let go of its usual stubbornness when dealing with regional neighborly issues. We are not suggesting that they handle it with exceptional friendliness, as this approach seems absent from Tehran's actions unless it aligns with their own interests.
Instead, they should handle it according to international laws, making sure that each rightful party gets what they deserve without gloating, especially if the Iranians genuinely aim, as they say, to start a new chapter of mutual cooperation.
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