Iran will sign a deal with France’s Total next week for the development of gas production at a major offshore field in the Gulf, a report said.

The development of Phase 11 of the South Pars field is worth $6 billion, an Iranian oil ministry spokesman was quoted as saying in the Oman Observer report.

The accord, which involves a consortium led by Total, which includes the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Iran’s Petropars must be finalised within six months, he added.