Iran welcomes US companies to invest in petroleum sector

US companies are welcome to invest in Iran's oil and gas industry, the Iranian oil minister said on Sunday.

State-run Press TV quoted Bijan Namdar Zangeneh as saying that "in general, we have no problem with the presence of American companies in Iran."

He said it is the US government that is "creating restrictions for these companies," without elaborating. Zangeneh also confirmed that Iran's state-run oil company has held talks with General Electric.

"Of course, my deputy conducted these negotiations and when I inquired about them, it was said that the talks were positive," he said.

The TV report said Zangeneh also asked Siemens executives to invest in Iran's oil and gas industry.

"The German company must come to Iran to build equipment and parts needed in our oil industry and manufacture them here," he said.

All sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program were lifted in January under a landmark agreement reached with world powers, but the US maintains separate sanctions related to Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for State Department-designated terrorist groups.

Iran is trying to regain its share of the global petroleum market after the removal of sanctions.

Saudi Arabia, Russia, Venezuela and Qatar floated the idea of a production cap last month with the aim of boosting global oil prices, but it was conditional on other producers joining in. Iran, which is eager to jumpstart its oil industry, has so far resisted.

Zangeneh dismissed the idea of a production freeze by Iran as "a joke", according to the TV report. He said Iran will take part in discussions on a possible oil production freeze after its output reaches 4 million barrels per day.

"As long as we have not reached 4 million bpd in production, they should leave us alone," Zangeneh said.