TEHRAN, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Türkiye on Thursday expressed willingness to enhance cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in the gas industry, the Shana News Agency affiliated with the Iranian Oil Ministry reported.
During a meeting in the Iranian capital Tehran, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji and Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar discussed the expansion of cooperation between Tehran and Ankara in the energy sector and boosting bilateral trade, the report said.
Owji voiced Iran's readiness to expand relations with Türkiye in the oil industry's upstream and downstream sectors.
In 2001, Iran signed a 25-year gas export contract with its northwestern neighbor Türkiye, which is set to expire in 2026.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Owji told reporters that negotiations officially started on Thursday between the National Iranian Gas Company and Turkish state-owned BOTAS Petroleum Pipeline Corporation on technical issues related to the contract's renewal.
He mentioned the interest of Turkish companies in participating in the upstream projects of Iran's oil industry, particularly in the development of gas fields. The Iranian minister said his country welcomed the Turkish companies.
Speaking to reporters, the Turkish minister said his country was willing to extend the contract.
Bayraktar said their discussions had focused on Turkish firms' investment in the development of the Iranian gas fields and the renovation of Iran's gas transfer infrastructure. ■
