Turkey has started talks with Iran with a view to striking a deal for the construction of a gas pipeline that would carry natural gas from Iran to Europe via Turkey, a Turkish paper reports.The Turkish paper Today Zaman reported on Sunday that Turkeys planned Iran-Turkey-Europe (ITE) natural gas pipeline project would be 5,000 kilometers long.
The report said the pipeline would be stretching from Iran to the Turkeys border with Greece.
The pipeline project is being considered by Turkey as international sanctions against Irans energy sector are shrinking following the implementation of Irans nuclear deal with world powers.
According to the Turkish paper, Turkey has concluded feasibility studies on the pipeline project.
Iran owns the worlds largest natural gas reserves after Russia, and is also Turkeys second biggest gas supplier after Russia.
Irans natural gas is of crucial importance to Turkey as the energy-hungry country uses a significant portion of imported Iranian gas to generate electricity.
On January 31, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said his country may double natural gas imports from Iran if the two countries agree on a price.
Yildiz said natural gas purchase from Iran was a key topic in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogans recent visit to Iran.
Erdogan paid an official visit to Iran last month and held talks with Iranian officials on the enhancement of trade and energy ties with the Islamic Republic.
During his two-day visit, the Turkish premier called for closer economic relations between Tehran and Ankara, stressing that his country is in need of Irans energy resources, including natural gas.
By Press TV
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