A senior Iranian Oil Ministry official said Monday that it may be possible for Japan to resume its participation in an Iranian oil field development project from which it withdrew nearly five years ago due to effects of strengthened U.S. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear ambitions.

The official told Kyodo News that Japan might be able to return to the project to develop an oil field in Azadegan, southwestern Iran, in a signal that the Middle Eastern country seeks to gain the high technical capabilities of Japanese companies.

The Iranian government was dissatisfied with the contributions of a Chinese firm following Japan's withdrawal, and is apparently hoping that the recent agreement between Iran and six major powers to curb Iran's nuclear program may prompt Japan to come back to the project.