TEHRAN August 09 (Shana)--Iranian Petroleum Minister says he has received no requests for presence in Iran's oil industry from any American company so far.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with senior Japanese executives as part of a high-profile delegation in Tehran, Zangeneh said, "The US government has set no grounds for the presence of American companies in Iran so far."

"We have received no requests from any American company so far," he said.

Asked whether Iran favors Asian countries over European ones for taking hold of projects in Iran, he said: "All international companies can vie for projects in Iran's oil industry."

A Japanese delegation led by State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Daishiro Yamagiwa arrived in Tehran on Saturday for a two-day visit to hold talks with Iran's senior officials. The delegation comprises trade officials and executives of major Japanese industries such as Mitsui & Co., Kansai Paint Co., Sanden Holdings, Nippon Steel, Sojitz, ITOCHU and Kamematu.

Their visit to Iran is the first by a Japanese trade delegation in 14 years.

The delegation is the latest of a series of foreign delegations to flock to Iran in pursuit of normalizing ties by enhancing industrial and business cooperation with the country ever since it reached a historic nuclear deal with world powers in Vienna.

By SHANA