Iran keen to export gas to EU

ATHENS - Emerging gas exporter Iran is keen to discuss a deal to supply the energy-hungry European continent which currently imports most of its gas from Russia, a senior Iranian official said Tuesday.

By (AFP)

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Published: Tue 27 Jan 2009, 9:20 PM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 4:32 AM

‘Iran is ready to discuss not just supply but also security. Energy security is the most important project which we are available to discuss...if the West asks for sustainable energy, Iran is available to talk,’ Iranian deputy foreign minister Mehdi Safari said in an Athens lecture.

Europe currently obtains the bulk of its gas from Russia, but a standoff this month between Ukrainian state gas company Naftogaz and Russian energy giant Gazprom resulted in several European countries being deprived of gas supplies for two weeks amid freezing winter temperatures.

A deputy minister for European affairs, Safari on Tuesday said Switzerland recently signed a contract for Iranian gas deliveries via Turkey and European investors are participating in a new Persian pipeline project to the West.

Both Iran and Russia, the world’s biggest gas producer, are part of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) that was formed last month with another dozen gas-exporting countries.

The Iranian official gave a lecture on Tehran’s role in reinforcing regional stability at the Greek Institute of International Relations.

Safari is on a two-day visit to Greece and is also set to meet with senior officials at the ministries of foreign affairs and development before returning to Tehran on Wednesday.



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