Jan Petersen (born 11 June 1946, in Oslo) is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.

Petersen was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Akershus in 1981, and was re-elected on six occasions.

From 2001 to 2005, when the second cabinet Bondevik held office, Petersen was Minister of Foreign Affairs.

On the local level Petersen was a member of Oppegård municipal council from 1967 to 1983, serving as mayor from 1975 to 1981.

Before entering national politics he worked for a few years in the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).