Tehran, Nov 17, IRNA � Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh underlined that the foreign companies can take part in energy explorations.

'The foreign companies based on the new contracts that have been approved by the cabinet can participate in discoveries of oil and gas resources,' Zanganeh said in a television interview with the television.

Zanganeh pointed to the upcoming Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Tehran, and said, 'This is the third GECF summit that is going to be held and I believe that this incident is a positive sign to Iran after removal of the sanctions and they countries taking part in the summit include Algeria, Bolivia, Tropical Guinea, Russia, Venezuela, Iraq, Egypt, Turkmenistan, Libya, UAE, Qatar, Oman and Peru.'

He noted the ordinary meeting of the ministers will be held first and the issues related to budget and the UN Secretary General's report will be announced and in the extraordinary meeting that will be held in the afternoon the final statement will be issued.

By IRNA