Iran will soon sign six agreements with international energy companies for the development of its oil sector projects, a report said.

Foreign companies that won oil sector deals in Iran would have to team up with local firms, Gholam-Reza Manouchehri, the deputy for engineering and development affairs of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), was quoted as saying in the Iran Daily report, which cited Irna.

“The foreign companies will play a central role in the development of major fields,” said Manouchehri. “Still, they will have to use the help of Iranian companies for their projects.”

Iranian companies can be only the project leader for the development of small fields and can use the help of foreign enterprises, he added.