Iran can offer $30B investments if sanctions end: envoy

By Furkan Naci Top & Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA 

Iran can offer $30 billion worth of energy investment opportunities if sanctions related to its nuclear program are removed, Iranian ambassador to Turkey told The Anadolu Agency.

In an interview with AA Tuesday, Ambassador Alireza Bikdeli said: "We can offer an investment chance of $30 billion to companies in the energy sector."

Bikdeli said that the Iranian energy sector had not gotten investments it deserved because of the international sanctions.

Earlier this month, Iran and the world powers group called P5+1 reached a framework agreement that gave hope for a final agreement, which would lift the sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

Since the framework deal has been announced, global energy giants have been announcing their intent to invest in Iran’s lucrative energy resources.

The envoy also said that Iran's vast natural gas reserves could be utilized to transfer energy to Europe through Turkey.

"A basis for transferring Iranian gas through Turkey has been established and details are still being worked out," Bikdeli said.

European countries, which are willing to diversify their energy sources because of a row with Russia, are leaning towards such a project as part of the Southern Gas Corridor.

Earlier this month, Miguel Arias Canete, EU's energy commissioner, said they were open to import Iranian gas, which could break their dependency on Russia that supplied one third of the total gas that Europe consumed.

Turkey has launched the Trans Atlantic Natural Gas Pipeline that will carry Azerbaijan’s gas through Georgia to the western borders of Turkey, from where it will reach European countries.

Iran is also eager to add Turkmenistan's natural gas to the project, while another line under the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan is also on the cards.

"We are also willing to be a transit line to transfer Turkmen gas to Turkey," the Iranian ambassador said. "This would help in improving trilateral economic ties," he added.