Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 30/ Trend G.Mehdi/
Iran's gas exports to Turkey have hit a new record high and surpassed 31 million cubic meters (mcm), the Mehr News Agency quoted Iran's Deputy Oil Minister Javad Owji as saying.
"For the first time, Iran's daily gas exports to Turkey exceeded 31 million cubic meters," Owji added.
The official added that under an agreement between Tehran and Ankara, the Islamic Republic should export up to 30 mcm of gas daily to its northwestern neighbor.
However, following a request by Turkey's Butas Company to import more gas from Iran due to severe cold, Iran currently exports more than 31.5 mcm of natural gas to Turkey per day," Owji noted.
According to Owji, Iran's average daily gas exports to neighboring countries, including Armenia and Turkey amount to nearly 35 mcm per day.
In 1996, Iran and Turkey signed a 25 year agreement to supply 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey annually.
According to the statistic data of the Turkish State Pipeline Company Botas, Turkey imported 39.7 billion cubic meters of gas from Iran in 2011.
On October 15, EU imposed fresh sanctions against Iran. It includes an embargo on Iranian natural gas and also targets Iranian banking, trade and shipping.
The Iranian Oil Ministry has said the EU's recent sanction is mere 'propaganda campaign' as Iran exports no gas to the European bloc.