Iran’s envoy to Russia Kazem Jalali has denied reports suggesting that Tehran should obtain Russia’s approval before any decision to drill for natural gas in the Caspian Sea.

“Over the 20 months that I have served as ambassador in Russia there had been no such issue,” Jalai was quoted as saying on Tuesday by the official IRNA news agency.

“Unfortunately, some reports are published in the media space from time to time to influence Iran-Russia relations,” he said.

The comments came a day after an Iranian energy businessman said that Tehran had to obtain Russia’s consent for taking gas from eight major wells that are located in the Iranian waters in the Caspian Sea.

Ardeshir Dadras, who serves as president of Iran’s Syndicate of Compressed Natural Gas, told the ILNA news agency on Monday that Iran and Russia had agreed that tap the Iranian gas wells in the Caspian Sea would only be possible if Iran’s demand for gas exceeds its output.

 

Source: Press TV