Iran reiterates gas supply offer to Europe

Iran stands ready to export natural gas to European countries seeking to diversify their energy sources, Press TV reported Thursday quoting a senior Iranian energy official. European countries can import Iran's gas through three separate routes, Iranian Deputy Oil Minister for International and Trade Affairs Ali Majedi said, adding that Turkish soil is the first and most viable option. The second route crosses such countries as Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, and the third one runs through Armenia, Georgia and under the Black Sea, Majedi said. He was repeating a similar offer made on Saturday by the country's oil minister, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh. "As a country that has the capacity to supply gas in large volumes, Iran is always willing to export natural gas to Europe via pipeline or in the form of liquefied natural gas," Zanganeh said. Zanganeh said Tehran's offer had nothing to do with Russia's differences with the EU over Ukraine crisis. Although Iran possesses one of the world's largest gas reserves, it has struggled for years to develop its oil and gas resources due to the withdrawal of foreign investors from its energy sector under Western pressure. The European Union and the United States are in negotiations with Iran to ease an oil and natural gas embargo aiming to pressure Tehran to halt sensitive parts of its controversial nuclear program.