CALGARY, ALBERTA 2/16/2012 6:46:24 AM
News / Business

WesternZagros in Top 50 Companies on TSX Venture Exchange

CALGARY, ALBERTA

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

WesternZagros Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:WZR) ("WesternZagros" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has been named to the 2012 TSX Venture 50®, a ranking of strong performing companies listed on Canada's TSX Venture Exchange.

The TSX Venture 50® annually awards the top 10 companies listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, in each of five major industry sectors - Oil and Gas, Mining, Technology & Life Sciences, Diversified Industries and Clean Technology. The 2012 TSX Venture Top 50 companies were chosen based their share price appreciation, trading volume, market capitalization, growth and analyst coverage, as of December 31, 2011.

"We are honored to be part of the TSX Venture Top 50," said Simon Hatfield, CEO of WesternZagros. With 2,250 listed issuers on the TSX Venture Exchange, our top 10 ranking in the oil and gas sector is validation of the value we are creating as we advance the appraisal of our discoveries in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq."

According to statistics compiled by the TSX Venture Exchange, in 2011 WesternZagros experienced a 41% growth in share price, 152% growth in capitalization, and achieved the third highest trading volume of the top ten oil and gas sector.

WesternZagros will be recognized by the TSX Venture Exchange in an award ceremony on April 3, 2012 to honour this year's Top 50 companies.

About WesternZagros Resources Ltd.

WesternZagros is an international natural resources company engaged in acquiring properties and exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and natural gas in Iraq. WesternZagros, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, holds two Production Sharing Contracts with the Kurdistan Regional Government in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. WesternZagros's shares trade in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "WZR".

This news release contains certain forward‐looking information relating, but not limited, to operational information, future drilling and testing plans, future production rates and sales, and the timing associated therewith. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "could", or similar words suggesting future outcomes. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on forward‐looking information as by its nature, it is based on current expectations regarding future events that involve a number of assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by WesternZagros. Readers are also cautioned that disclosed test rates and AOFs may not be indicative of ultimate production levels. In addition, the forward‐looking information is made as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Forward‐looking information is not based on historical facts but rather on management's current expectations and assumptions regarding, among other things, plans for and results of drilling activity and testing programs, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), continued political stability, and timely receipt of any necessary government or regulatory approvals. Although the Company believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward‐looking information are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward‐looking information involves significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by WesternZagros including, but not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry (e.g. operational risks in exploration; inherent uncertainties in interpreting geological data; changes in plans with respect to exploration or capital expenditures; interruptions in operations together with any associated insurance proceedings; the uncertainty of estimates and projections in relation to costs and expenses and health, safety and environmental risks), the risk of commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, the uncertainty associated with negotiating with foreign governments and risk associated with international activity. For further information on WesternZagros and the risks associated with its business, please see the Company's Annual Information Form dated April 11, 2011, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

WESTERNZAGROS RESOURCES WAS RECOGNIZED AS A TSX VENTURE 50® COMPANY IN 2012. TSX VENTURE 50 IS A TRADE-MARK OF TSX INC. AND IS USED UNDER LICENSE.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Contact Information

WesternZagros Resources Ltd.
Greg Stevenson
Chief Financial Officer
(403) 693-7007

WesternZagros Resources Ltd.
Lisa Harriman
Manager of Investor Relations
(403) 693-7017