Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 8
By Fatih Karimov- Trend:
Iran is ready to hold talks with Turkey for signing a new gas contract, Azizullah Ramazani, chairman of Iranian National Gas Company for International Affairs said.
Within the current gas contract, Iran can not supply extra gas to the neighboring country, Ramazani said, the oil ministry's official SHANA news agency reported.
He further said that Turkey has not submitted any demand for extra gas import from Iran so far.
If the Turkish side proposes a new request, Iran will study the issue in terms of production and transmission facilities, the Iranian official added.
Earlier Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, Iranian oil minister said that Tehran will not increase its gas supply to Ankara in case of a possible shortage of gas in Turkey due to the recent tensions with Moscow.
If Turkey's gas demand increases, Iran will be unable to supply more than an existing amount as the domestic demand in Iran is expected to increase due to the cold season, the minister said.
According to the existing contract between Tehran and Ankara, Iran is committed to deliver up to 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year. However, the figure stood at 9 (bcm) last year.
Tensions between Moscow and Ankara intensified after Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber Nov. 24 over its border with Syria.