( AP ) - Turkey has no intention to end energy deals with Iran -- its No. 2 supplier of natural gas -- the prime minister said Thursday.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's comments were in response to a statement by U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, who said in Ankara on Wednesday that U.S. allies should consider sanctioning Iran over its disputed atomic program.
Burns pointed out that an energy deal signed between Iran and Turkey in July was not helpful. The preliminary deal foresees the construction of two separate pipelines to ship natural gas from the fields in Iran and neighboring Turkmenistan via Turkish territory.
" Russia and Iran are Turkey's most important sources in terms of natural gas," Erdogan told reporters before boarding a plane for the United States.
Erdogan said Turkey was faced with an ever increasing demand for natural gas for heating, industry and energy production.
"It is impossible for us to say: 'we are cutting natural gas cooperation with these countries,'" Erdogan said. He added that the United States had not asked Turkey to cut cooperation with Iran.
Talks on a third U.N. resolution that would impose new sanctions on Iran were expected next week in New York, when world leaders will attend the annual ministerial session of the U.N. General Assembly.
"All countries should do their best ... to sanction Iran on their own according to their laws," Burns said. "I think all of us believe that a diplomatic solution is preferable and the sanctions are a very important instrument."
"The whole trend is away from commercial engagement and toward sanctions, whether that's Security Council sanctions or individual sanctions," Burns said