Jan Petersen (born 11 June 1946, in Oslo) is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.
He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Akershus in 1981, and was re-elected on six occasions.
He had previously served as a deputy representative during the term 1973–1977.
From 2001 to 2005, when the second cabinet Bondevik held office, Petersen was Minister of Foreign Affairs.
From 1971 to 1973 he was the leader of the Young Conservatives (Unge Høyre), the youth wing of the Conservative Party.
Outside politics Petersen has a cand.jur.
degree from the University of Oslo in 1973.
Before entering national politics he worked for a few years in the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
From 2009 to 2014 he served as the Norwegian ambassador to Austria, and he then retired.
In 2004, Petersen was appointed a Commander with Star of the Order of St.