Mohammad-Reza Moqaddam told PIN the country did not face any financial shortage for developing Azadegan. “We can do the job through supports from the government and the parliament,” he said. “The foreign party in the Azadegan project claims that oil prices have changed, and therefore, it has to increase its estimated costs,” he said, noting that Japan was obliged to press ahead with the project. “Irans refusal to conduct all minesweeping operations has provided the Japanese firm – Inpex – with a pretext to call for a rise in the costs,” said Moqaddam. “We cannot delay the development of three oil fields in Azadegan and Yadavaran,” he said. “We have to be rapid in developing North Azadegan, South Azadegan and Yadavaran oil fields.” Regarding Yadavaran oil field, Moqaddam said negotiations were under way with a Chinese company. “According to our major development plan, Yadavarans crude reserves are in proper conditions, but the Chinese side is bargaining to estimate it down.” “In case of talks drag-out, we will have to think of new measures,” he warned. Moqaddam said an Indian firm was to develop the North Azadegan oil field.