The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said that Iran has dropped Russia's national oil company Gazprom from the Azar oil field development project due to the oil company's numerous "delays."

The NIOC plans to sign an agreement for the development of Azar field (with a proven two billion barrels of oil reserves) with a consortium of Iranian companies.

The Azar oil field, located in Anaran Block, lies in Iran's western province of Liam and is shared with neighboring Iraq.

[Editor's comment: The NIOC made no reference whether the development of Azar oil field was being coordinated with Iraq.]

Source: presstv.ir, August 29, 2011