Ahvaz Field
The Ahvaz Field is an Iranian oil field located in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province. It was discovered in 1953 and Developed by Anglo-Persian Oil Company. It began production in 1954. Ahvaz field is one of the richest oil fields in the world with an estimated proven reserves around , and Production is centered on . The field is owned by National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and operated by National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC).
Arab separatism in Khuzestan
The Al-Ahwaz Arab Peoples Democratic Popular Front (AADPF) is based in London and is led by Mahmud Ahmad Al-Ahwazi, aka Abu Bashar. The group calls for human rights and democracy for Iranian Arabs and believes that "Al-Ahwaz" was occupied by Iran in 1925. The ADPF has a number of activists in Iranian custody. Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, the Minister of Defense and Logistic Affairs of the Armed Forces, accused Mahmud Ahmad Al-Ahwazi of involvement in the April 2005 unrest, while simultaneously claiming that his group had "zero popularity" amongst Arabs in Khuzestan. The ADPF has also claimed it led what it calls an "intifada" in Khuzestan. Shamkhani also claimed that Mahmud Ahmad Al-Ahwazi was a former member of the
SAVAK (the Shah's secret police) before the revolution who defected to Iraq during the Iran–Iraq War. It is not known how much, if any, of Shamkhani's claims are true.