Iran to hold tender for oil, natural gas fields in mid-February

Iran will launch new contracts to develop oil and natural gas fields in mid-February in the country's first such tender since the lifting of international sanctions a year ago, an oil official said on Saturday, Reuters reported.

"The plan was to hold the first tender at the end of January, but it will be held with 15 days of delay on February 15," Ali Kardor, managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), was quoted as saying by ISNA news agency.

"Twenty-nine companies have been qualified, but we would like to add more companies to the list," he added.