Iran says it always observes the principles of good neighborliness and mutual interests in exploiting shared hydrocarbon reservoirs,�as the controversy surrounding the Arash joint oil and gas field with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait erupted anew.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan�ani on Tuesday reacted to the latest claims by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait over their �exclusive rights� to Arash strategic maritime gas field, known as Al-Dorra in the two Arab countries, in the resource-rich Persian Gulf.

Earlier this month, in an interview with Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya television, Kuwait Oil Minister Saad Al Barrak called on Iran to validate its claim to the field by demarcating its own maritime borders first.

�Whoever has a claim must start demarcating the borders. And if it has a right, it will take it according to the rules of international law,� the Kuwaiti minister said.

A day after the Kuwaiti statement, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry said that the Arab kingdom has �full rights� along with Kuwait to the gas field.

In response to such claims, Kan�ani said senior managers of the Iranian and Kuwaiti foreign ministries held their latest round of �legal and technical� negotiations in Tehran on March 13 about the demarcation of the disputed area.

�The Islamic Republic of Iran has always paid heed to the issues relating to maritime demarcation and exploitation of joint hydrocarbon resources by considering the common interests and the principle of good neighborliness with all the neighbors, including Kuwait,� the Iranian spokesperson added.

He once again reiterated the Iranian administration�s policy on pursuing dialogue, cooperation and engagement and said all bilateral issues are pursued based on such a framework.

By Press TV