Deputy Managing Director of Integrated Planning Department at National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Abdolreza Assadi said a number of Russian and Swedish companies are prepared for cooperation in deep-water drilling in Iran.
He said Iran has taken good steps for oil exploration in the Caspian, but added that the country welcomes cooperation from credited and experienced companies to expedite the development of oil fields in the region.
Assadi underlined that foreign companies willing to cooperate in the Caspian Sea oil exploration should have previous experience in deep-water drilling and possess the required technical capability to operate in these fields, IRNA reported.
With its huge oil and gas reserves in the central and southern regions, Iran had until recently attached little importance to oil exploration in the Caspian Sea.
The country started exploration in its territorial waters in the Caspian in recent years and discovered a huge gas field some three years ago.
Iran has also found new oil reserves in the deep waters of the Caspian Sea.