TEHRAN – Turkey is keen on the idea of a new pipeline from Iran, Turkish Energy Minister Ali Riza Alaboyun said.

Iran is Turkey’s second-biggest gas supplier, Alaboyun said, but added that Turkey did not wish to act as a transit country.

“We would like that gas (coming from Iran) to be integrated in our system, and would like to re-export if there is a surplus,” Alaboyun told Reuters.

Meanwhile, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh says the country puts the priority on exporting gas to the neighboring countries.
 
Hamid Reza Araqi, the managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company, said in May that the company 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.