September 06, 2007	Thursday	Sha'aban 23, 1428

TEHRAN, Sept 5: Iran and Belarus on Wednesday signed a deal worth an initial $250 million to develop an oil field in southwest Iran, the latest sign of the expanding relationship between the two US foes.

The deal to develop the Jofeir oil field was signed in Tehran by Iranian officials and the president of the Belarusneft oil company, Alexander Lyakov.

Naji Saadoni, the head of Iranian oil projects in the region, told reporters the deal was worth $250 million and then up to another $250 million if Iran’s national oil company agreed to go ahead with a second phase.

The field, which lies in an oil-rich region of Ilam province close to the border with Iraq, will supply 15,000 barrels of oil a day in the first phase and then 25,000 barrels should the second phase go ahead, he added.—AFP