Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 9 /Trend S.Isayev, T. Jafarov/
Iran imports Turkmen gas in order to widen the co-operation between the two countries, Iranian deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi told Trend.
"Iran itself exports gas to various countries, being second country in the world, in terms of gas reserves," Araqchi said.
The official said that Iran exports the imported Turkmen gas, and carries out its transit.
According to Araqchi, Iran imports gas from Turkmenistan to develop its economic relations with Turkmenistan further.
"There were some problems regarding this issue, sometimes because of the weather affecting the amount of imported gas," the official said.
"Sometimes it was because of the sanctions imposed on Iran by the Western states, sometimes it was because of financial transactions. However, these problems were temporary, and were always solved," he noted.
The deputy noted that the old gas debts are paid, and the current debts are being paid, and there are no problems.
"Our countries continue transparent and constructive co-operation in this sphere," he said.
According to Iranian official statistics, Turkmenistan exported 11.8 bcm of gas to Iran during the last Solar year, which ended on March 19.
The current year's figure indicates more than 60 percent drop in Turkmenistan's gas exports to Iran.
Mehr news agency reported at the same time that Iran's debts to Turkmenistan have surpassed $1 billion because of difficulties related to Iran's banking system being crippled by the international sanctions.
According to contracts signed between Iran and Turkmenistan, the latter is obliged to export 40 bcm of gas to Iran.
Turkmenistan earlier promised to renew gas exports to Iran. As part of the barter trade, Iran is obliged to send oil industry equipment to Turkmenistan, who in turn would export gas to its neighbor.
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