TEHRAN, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Natural resources form the basis of improved bilateral ties between Iran and Turkmenistan, the Iranian president said after inaugurating a natural gas pipeline.
Iran and Turkmenistan inaugurated the 75-mile second phase of a natural gas pipeline between the two countries. The pipeline expands gas imports from Turkmenistan from 700 million cubic feet per day to 1.76 billion cfd, the Iranian Oil Ministry's Petroenergy Information Network reports.
The pipeline services the mountainous north of Iran, which sees expanded industrial needs during winter months. Tehran said the pipeline also increased the export potential for European countries.
Iran is eager to join the Nabucco gas project for European consumers, though Western leaders said there is no chance Iranian gas would enter the pipeline.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during a meeting with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov that natural resources were the foundation for bilateral ties between the two Asian neighbors.
"God-given energy reserves have provided an essential basis for deepening relations between Iran and Turkmenistan," the Iranian president said.
