Tehran, Iran, Aug. 19
By Mehdi Sepahvand – Trend:
The Islamic Republic of Iran is able to increase its gas export to Turkey by 6 million cubic meters per day (mcmd), said CEO of the National Iranian Gas Company Hamidreza Araqi.
The existing contract would not allow Iran to do so and a new contract is needed to be signed by the two countries, Araqi told SHANA news agency Aug. 19.
The official pointed to an Aug. 12 visit to Turkey by Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as related to the decision.
The increase in gas export, thus, seems to be a part of a broad series of agreements between Iran and Turkey during Zarif’s trip, of which their political cooperation on the ongoing Syrian crisis made the most headlines.
The gas export issue, thus, indicates the use of energy resources as a tool for Tehran to achieve political favors.
Under a contract that is currently underway, Iran is exporting 30 mcmd of gas to the neighboring country.
Iran’s gas export from March 20 to Aug. 15 amounted to 2.093 billion cubic meters (bcm). The export for the same period last year was 2.051 bcm.