ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said Wednesday his country would push for a joint gas production deal with Iran.
Turkey and Iran had agreed to a preliminary $3.5 billion deal to produce some 720 billion cubic feet of natural gas from the Iranian South Pars gas field.
Both countries failed to reach a decision on the measure, however, when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Ankara in August. Washington opposes any move by Western countries to deal with Iran because of its controversial nuclear program, though Guler denied any such pressure, Iranian Press TV said.
"I will go to Tehran to sign when the text of the deal is ready," Guler said.
The Turkish state-owned TPAO oil and gas firm will carry out explorations in South Pars, and imported Iranian gas will be used for domestic consumption in Turkey or for further exports to European markets.
