Multinational corporations and development of technology in the Oil industry of Iran

The advancement of technology has been one of the most critical concerns of the oil industry in the last three decades, and the need for self-sufficiency in the oil industry was felt more than ever with the further addition of sanctions. Legal specialists have also published many pieces of research in order to deliver solutions regarding the issue. However, legal concerns must be considered along with technical considerations. In this regard, two solutions come to mind concerning the development and advancement of technology in the oil industry. First, the presence of multinational companies in the industry and the conclusion of technology trade agreements with them; second, the membership of Iranian companies in multinational corporations. This being noted, each of these solutions may face practical obstacles, and the effectiveness of these two solutions must be subject to further analyses. In the present study, with an interdisciplinary approach, an attempt has been made to review these cases while reviewing previous studies so that finally, a comprehensive and realistic view of the capacity of multinational corporations (to help the advancement of the technology) could be realized.