Iran denies boosting gas exports to Turkey

Iran has denied reports claiming that the country has increased natural gas exports to Turkey in recent days.

Sadeq Akbarpour, director of the gas measuring station at the Bazargan border, said Iran accounts for 30% of Turkey’s needed gas and the claim about boosting gas exports in recent days is not true, Shana news agency reported on December 7.

As per the existing contract, Iran exports 30 million cubic meters of gas to Turkey per day via a 1700-km pipeline with 17 compressors through the Bazargan border, he explained.

Gas exports to Turkey have been on the rise since 2008 and have reached 10 billion cubic meters per year, he noted.

“However, if Ankara is willing to raise import of Iranian gas, it will not be possible within the framework of the existing contract and a new contract should be concluded.”

Director of International Affairs of the National Iranian Gas Company, Azizollah Ramezani said on December 6 that, "We are ready to negotiate a new gas deal with Turkey." 

"Iran cannot inject more than what has been agreed upon in the deal to Turkey," he added.