“Since Gaz de France is a major player in the world’s gas market, the company is keen to participate in Iran’s gas exports projects,” added the Tehran-based Mohammad-Reza Odabaei.

With 14 million household and industrial subscribers, GDF was perusing long-term supply of Europe’s gas with the highest quality of service, he said.

According to the official, negotiations are on the go for the joint cooperation of GDF and Total, also a French oil company, in the upstream industries and Iran LNG exports project.

Based on the reports, GDF is in talks with National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) for 14 percent and 7 percent shares in upstream and downstream sectors of the plan respectively.

Fourteen oil giants have already purchased the tender documents of 17 blocks.

Hossein Roshandel, National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) deputy director for exploration affairs, said that 62 information packages had been purchased.

The Anglo-Dutch Shell, Total, Brazil’s Petrobras, Malaysia’s Petronas, Spain’s Repsol, and Austria’s OMV were among the bidders, said the official, however refusing to name the purchasers.

Roshandel said at least €450 million is needed for exploratory operations.

Of the blocks, five are offshore and 12 onshore, spreading across nine provinces in a 129,000 km area.

Qouchan, Naftshahr, Ilam, Danan, Fassa, Bandar Abbas, Razi, Maraveh, Tappeh, Moghan 1 and 2, Kavir, Alvand, Ferdowsi, Laleh, Taban, and Deir constitute the 17 blocks.

Companies may purchase tender documents at varying prices, but the maximum price is €38 thousand, he said.

Iran expects to attract €46 million for the blocks, Roshandel added.

Iran introduced 17 oil blocks for exploration and development during a February meeting in the Austrian capital Vienna.

U.S. pressures to persuade foreign oil companies not to invest in Iran have been ineffective.