TEHRAN, Iran � Dispute remains ongoing over whether�parliamentary approval�is required for the Iran Petroleum Contract (IPC),�a new oil and gas contract model rolled out by the government�for upstream projects.�Conservative lawmakers want to make further changes to the strategic contract model, arguing that the version approved Aug. 3 by President Hassan Rouhani's Cabinet�includes articles that go�against Iran's�national interest. The�IPC is�the framework for about 50 upstream oil and gas contracts expected to be signed with foreign investors in coming months.

The draft contract, which is aimed at attracting $185 billion in foreign investment in oil and gas production and refining, was first presented to energy investors for feedback�last November in Tehran. Since then, the�Petroleum Ministry has made 150 changes to it in an attempt to assuage domestic critics.

Nevertheless, immediately after the Cabinet�s approval of the IPC, the ultraconservative newspaper Kayhan published an editorial arguing that the amendments only added to the contract�s �disadvantages.� In a separate story published in the same issue, Kayhan implied that both the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the IPC are bad deals that will harm the Iranian economy, thus�threatening the national interest.

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This article was written by Alireza Ramezani for Al-Monitor on Aug. 24, 2016. Alireza Ramezani earned his master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University,�United Kingdom. He has worked for various media organizations and businesses in Iran since 1999.