Turkey could well be chosen as a route for exports of Iranian gas to Europe in the post sanctions era, according to Javad Amin-Mansour, director for trade and energy negotiations at Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
Iran eyes the total removal of international sanctions so it can gain access to European markets.
'I think transferring gas through Turkey is possible. We don't have direct access to the European market. There are some countries in between, and access depends on their position,' Mansour told Anadolu Agency.
Speaking on marketing natural gas to Europe, the director said that after the Implementation Day, which will occur once the International Atomic Energy Authority verifies that Iran has implemented key nuclear-related measures described in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, details on routes and markets will be considered.
He also emphasized that Iran may export more gas to Turkey should it be required.
'I don't see any problem basically, because Iran has the second largest gas reserves in the world. So potentially it has enough reserves for that purpose, but by that time, it will depend on contracts between the two countries,' he asserted.
Iran produced around 173 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2014, according to BP's Statistical Review of World Energy 2015. In addition, Tehran aims to nearly double its gas production in the coming years, if sanctions on the country are removed next year.
Annually, Iran sends an average of 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey. Current shortages in gas transfer from Iran to Turkey have been caused by severe weather conditions in Iran, Mansour said.
By Ugur Serhan Ozcan
Anadolu Agency
ugur.ozcan@aa.com.tr