TEHRAN, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Exporting Iranian natural gas to European consumers through Turkey would have benefits for both economies, an Iranian vice president said in Tehran.
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi said during talks in Tehran with Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz that cooperation in the energy sector would be mutually helpful.
"Cooperation between Iran and Turkey in pumping Iranian natural gas to Europe is in the interest of both nations and governments," he was quoted by Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency as saying.
Gas exports to Turkey, Tehran said, reached record highs in December and the average daily rate was about 1.06 billion cubic feet during 2010.
Iran has some of the largest natural gas deposits in the world, with Tehran noting these resources make it a likely partner for the Nabucco pipeline planned through Turkey.
Europe aims to break the Russian deadlock on the regional energy sector by moving gas from Middle Eastern and Central Asian suppliers through Nabucco. Few potential supplier nations have committed formally to the project, though Western allies have ruled out Iranian gas passing through the planned pipeline.
