Iran says it can increase its exports of natural gas to Turkey by 6 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d).�

Hamidreza Araqi, the managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), told the local media that the increase in exports of gas to Turkey can be implemented through the existing infrastructure.

Araqi said that Iran is currently exporting 30 mcm/d of natural gas to Turkey.� He emphasized, however, that an increase in the exports will require a new long-term contract, IRNA reported.

Iran�s announcement follows a report that concerns are rising in Turkey over what industrialists say is an impending shortage of natural gas in the country.

On Thursday, the media quoted Ali ?en, the chairman of Turkey�s Bosphorus Gaz which is a key importer of gas from Russia, as saying that Ankara will soon have to deal with the impacts of the shortage of natural gas if an ambitious project for making imports from Russia through the Turkish Stream pipeline is not materialized before 2019.

Iran�s announcement that it can increase its gas exports to Turkey follows the warming diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Iran�s Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif visited Turkey last week to discuss political and economic issues with top Turkish officials.

During his visit, Turkey�s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu emphasized that Ankara wants to increase the volume of natural gas it is currently purchasing from Iran.

Iran is Turkey�s second supplier of gas after Russia, providing one-fifth of the country�s consumption.

Russia sells 28-30 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to Turkey each year.

By Press TV