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Turkey rebuffs U.S. pressure

Atul Aneja

DUBAI: Turkey has rebuffed American pressure against a possible deal with Iran to transfer Iranian gas to Europe.

“Iran made us an attractive offer...Should we not think of our country’s interests at this point?

“Is the United States going to ask why we did not seek their permission? I believe they will understand,” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

While exact details of the preliminary agreement are not yet available, officials involved in the negotiations have said that Iran

and the Central Asian republic of Turkmenistan are targeting joint exports of 30 billion cubic metres of gas a year to Europe through the Turkish transit corridor.

Besides, Iran has agreed to the participation of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) in the phased production of 20 billion

cubic meters of gas on its soil. The Turkish company is expected to participate in the development of Iran’s giant South Pars field in three phases.

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