TEHRAN- Iran attaches priority to the regional countries for boosting its gas exports, according to Amir Hossein Zamaninia, Iran’s deputy oil minister for international and trade affairs.

Zamaninia said export of gas to the neighboring countries will deepen Iran’s relations with them, the Shana News Agency reported on Tuesday.

Iran’s gas exports to the regional countries plays very effective role in the country’s political ties, the official mentioned.

He said Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, India and Pakistan will be in need of Iran’s gas.

Questioned about Iran’s exports of gas to Europe, Hamid Reza Araqi, the managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), has previously emphasized that the countries, which are geographically close to Iran, are its prioritized destinations for gas exports.

Iran can export gas to the Persian Gulf countries through building a pipeline to the length of at most 200 kilometers, Araqi said; adding that exports of gas to these countries takes less time and lowest costs for Iran, while it brings more advantages for the country.

Meanwhile, on August 2 Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said the country puts the priority on exporting gas to the neighboring countries. 

“For the time being, it is economically unjustified to export gas to Europe. We do not seek to export gas at any price. Instead, we are seeking to increase revenues,” Zanganeh stated.

In May, Araqi said that NIGC is in talks with foreign investors willing to invest in Iranian gas pipeline projects, but no agreement has been signed so far. 

During past years, the Islamic Republic has been making efforts to increase gas production and exports by attracting foreign and domestic investment. 

The country is currently exporting gas to Turkey and is set to start gas exports to its western neighbor, Iraq. 

In April, Araqi said that Iran is ready to export natural gas to Kuwait via a pipeline, which is being built to transfer Iran's gas to Iraq. 

MA