Energy ties with Iran stable, Turkey says

TEHRAN, July 2 (UPI) -- Ankara plans to continue activity in the Iranian energy sector because it is not restricted by U.N. sanctions, the Turkish energy minister said.

The Security Council voted June 9 to place new sanctions on Iran that allow for searches of banned goods in cargo to or from Iran and increase the number of individuals and companies subject to travel bans and an asset freeze.

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told Iran's state-funded broadcaster Press TV that his country would continue doing business with Iran in light of the Security Council measure.

"Turkey will continue to cooperate with Iran because the sanctions did not include any specific restriction on energy deals," he said.

Yildiz added that his country was waiting for the results of technical studies to wrap up in the South Pars gas field in the Persian Gulf.

"After we receive the result of this study we will decide how to move forward," Yildiz said

According to Press TV, Iran exports more than 880 million cubic feet of natural gas to Turkey every day.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama signed a measure Thursday that unilaterally targets foreign entities involved in Iran's energy sector.

Iran sits on some of the largest natural gas deposits in the world, though it relies on imports to meet much of its energy demands.

Tehran said that new sanctions would provide encouragement to become energy self-sufficient.