Iran, Turkey Close to Striking Energy Deal

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran and Turkey have resolved problems on planned investment in the South Pars gas field and they may sign a production accord in November.

Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler will visit Iran next month and sign the deal after both parties agreed on the investment model and plan of three natural gas fields in the country’s South Pars region.

Iran and Turkey had earlier failed to conclude expected energy accords during the visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Turkey in August. The United States opposes the plan.

Guler had earlier denied that the natural gas deal with Iran would be suspended and he said he would visit Tehran to sign when the next deal was ready.

Under the deal, Turkey’s state-owned petroleum company TPAO will explore in Iran’s South Pars field and gas will be piped to Turkey for consumption or re-export to European markets.