KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysian national oil firm Petronas said Friday it has acquired an interest in the onshore Munir block in Iran from Edison International and Lundin (MUNIR) Ltd.

Under the newly-approved farm-in transaction, Petronas Carigali Overseas now owns a 30 percent stake in the block, while Edison International and Lundin Munir have 40 percent and 30 percent stakes respectively.

Petronas did not state the value of the stake.

The Munir block is located in the Zagros fold belt of Iran, one of the most oil prolific sedimentary basins in the world.

Operations in the block are currently ongoing while exploratory drilling activities are expected to begin in the second half of 2003, Petronas said in a statement.

Apart from the Munir block, Petronas has a 40 percent interest in the Sirri A and E oilfields offshore Iran.