Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh said French energy giant Total has officially withdrawn from Phase 11 of South Pars, one of the country’s biggest gas projects.

All equipment and investment committed by Total in Iran's South Pars project will remain in the country despite the French energy giant's exit, said Asadollah Gharehkhani, the spokesperson for the Parliament's Energy Commission.

The managing director of Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC) said China's state-owned CNPC would assume Total’s share of around 80 percent in the development of Phase 11 of South Pars.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Total Patrick Pouyanne.