TEHRAN, Feb. 09 (Shana) -- Iran says foreign firms which own the country its oil money are ready to settle their debts, probably in euros.

Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh told a Tuesday press conference that Greece's Hellenic Petroleum, Italy's Saras and Royal Dutch Shell own Iran about $4bn which will be paid back to Iran in euros.

Shell has said it is ready to pay its debts to Iran, said Zangeneh, but Greece's Hellenic Petroleum has troubles paying Iran back but alternative methods are being worked out for so doing.

He said Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), Japan and Netherlands have also started settling their debts to the Central Bank of Iran.

By SHANA