Turkey considers Iran a key energy partner as it needs Iranian gas to feed a rapidly growing energy demand, a Turkish energy executive said on Wednesday following US calls on Ankara to cut business ties with Tehran.

Total reiterated on Thursday it was still in talks with Iran to carry out a multibillion dollar gas project but added a decision on investment was not in sight.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini has strongly condemned the US House of Representatives’ decision to declare the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization, calling it an “irresponsible and illegal” act.