"In the long run, Iran can have engagement with many countries and access European market through LNG. European market is not the market where we are to compete with Russia. We will not be a substitute for Russia and do not have such a goal. Iran has its own market and our neighbors need gas. Exports is one of the strategic goals of the country," Araqi said, as quoted by the Shana news agency.
Araqi added that he considered Iran to be the only country in the region that could meet the demands of its neighbors in the natural gas.
In July, Iran and the P5+1 group, comprising Russia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, reached a deal ensuring the safe nature of Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, including embargoes on trade in gas and oil.
In mid-January, the sanctions were removed after the International Atomic Energy Agency verified Tehran’s compliance with the nuclear agreement. The move makes it possible for Iran to once again become an active player on the global energy market.
