ABSTRACT
This book examines the structure and role of international oil and gas contracts in Iran. The rationale for this examination is based on the vital role of oil in the legal, economic and political policy-making arena of Iran since early last century. It considers the strengths and weaknesses of past and present contractual forms in regard to the Iranian government’s interests in promoting oil and gas and investment in upstream oil and gas development. The central theme of this book is the analysis of the concept of concession in oil and gas development. This will be discussed through the main forms of concession contract, namely, the classic concession contract (hereafter referred to as CCC) and the new concession contract (hereafter referred to as NCC). The research overviews the historical system of concession contracts (and its amendments) and other forms of contracts to have been adopted in Iran. It then compares the contractual regimes with other arrangements such as joint venture contracts, production sharing agreements, service contracts, finance contracts and buy-backs used internationally by sectors of the oil and gas industry. Finally, recommendations are made about the most appropriate form of contract for future oil and gas industry development in Iran
