TEHRAN (FNA)- Tehran and Masqat will discuss issues related to Irans gas exports to Oman during President Hassan Rouhanis Wednesday visit, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh announced, and said that Iran plans to increase oil production after being outpaced by Iraq among the OPEC members.We are going to discuss supply of gas to Oman which is rather an old issue raised long time ago and we hope that we can reach a practical document binding for the two sides, Zanganeh told reporters before leaving Tehran for Masqat as part of President Rouhani's entourage in the Oman visit.
Asked if Iran has come into terms with Oman for entering the gas retail market of the Arab country, he said, Some agreements have been held in this regard and we will reach good results during this trip (to Masqat).
Iran sits atop the worlds largest gas reserves. Iran is currently producing more than 700 mcm/d of sour gas which is fed into petrochemical plants, power plants, domestic industries, oil wells and households. A portion of this production is exported.
Elsewhere, Zanganeh said he was displeased to see that Iran has been outpaced by Iraq in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and said Iran has good plans to increase its oil output to 4mln barrels.
He also referred to the countrys plans to import gasoline from other countries in the next Iranian year (which starts on March 21), but said its volume is yet to be decided by officials.
President Rouhani left Tehran for Masqat this morning to confer with senior Omani officials on the latest regional and international development as well as new ways to expand the ties between the two Persian Gulf nations.
Speaking to reporters at the airport prior to his departure, President Rouhani underlined that Iran has always had friendly relations with Oman, adding that Tehran is currently more determined to further strengthen bilateral ties with Masqat.
He further referred to the agreements signed during Omani Sultan Qaboos visit to Tehran, and said that during his two-day visit he is to follow up the implementation process of the previous agreements.
President Rouhani is also to discuss major regional and international issues with Sultan Qaboos as well as other senior officials of the Muslim state.
The Iranian president is accompanied with a high-ranking delegation consisting of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran Valiollah Seif, and a number of senior officials.
Iranian officials have repeatedly underlined that they attach great importance to the consolidation of Tehran's relations with the Middle-East countries, specially with the Persian Gulf littoral states, in order to protect and promote peace and security in the region.
By Fars News Agency
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