According toKEPCO, Ali Osuli told a strategic meeting of the company, which was attended byReza Dehghan, deputy director of development and engineering at the NationalIranian Oil Company, that: "Better results could be expected if Foreigncompanies joined the oil and gas projects in the Caspian Sea region, but wewould not wait for them and continue executing projects by relying on domesticcapabilities.”

He saidKEPCO had signed a number of MoUs with Foreign companies following the JointComprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), adding if the companies never showed upfor working in the projects, KEPCO would continue its operations by relying ondomestic capabilities, Shana wrote.

The CEO ofKhazar Exploration and Production Company said: "In the past, thecountry's authorities viewed the Caspian region fairly politically and from thesecurity point of view, but today, given the actions and exploration activitiesof KEPCO, which led to the discovery of the Sardar Jangal Oilfield, the viewsof the authorities towards the Caspian Sea have shifted from a politicalperspective to an economic one.”

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