Iran, Iraq resume talks on gas deal

TEHRAN - Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi has started a new round of talks with Iraqi officials in Baghdad, discussing the implementation of a previously signed deal with the Iraqi side to export Iranian gas to Iraq.

Heading a 9-member delegation, Qasemi exchanged views with Iraqi officials on oil, gas and electricity ties, the Shana News agency reported.

On Thursday, Qasemi met with Iraqi deputy oil minister Falah al-Ameri. The Iranian minister is scheduled to meet with Iraqi Electricity Minister Abdul Karim Aftan today.

The Iraqi government has said it gave consent to a preliminary agreement to build oil and natural gas pipelines from Iran to Syria.

 

The Iraqi Cabinet issued a statement, obtained by the Platts news service, saying it consented to "an agreement between the Iraqi Oil Ministry and the Iranian Oil Ministry and the Syrian Oil and Mineral Resources Ministry about a gas pipeline construction project through Iran-Iraq-Syria-Europe and the agreement would be effective from the date signed."

Gas from the project would come from Iran and help support electricity for the Iraqi and Syrian markets. An oil pipeline would run from the southern Iraqi port of Basra and deliver about 1 million barrels of oil per day to the Red Sea port city of Aqaba.

Iranian officials have said that Tehran also aims to extend the pipeline to Lebanon and the Mediterranean to supply gas to Europe.