Payment of Iran’s gas debts to Turkmenistan was one of the topics discussed between Turkmen delegation and the Minister of Petroleum of Iran Javad Owji in Tehran on Tuesday.
The talks also discussed the revival of Turkmen gas export contract to Iran, increase of swap supplies of Turkmen natural gas to Azerbaijan and establishment of new swap gas deliveries to other countries via Iran, the Iranian Petroleum Ministry’s news agency Shana reports with reference to the Owji’s remarks to journalists following the meeting.
Referring to the issue of payment of Iran’s gas debts to Turkmenistan, Owji said, “According to the negotiations, the receivables from the gas exports to Iraq for gas debts will be transferred from Iraq to the account of the Turkmen side.”
Iraq reportedly owes Iran $1.6 billion for previous gas imports. Last Wednesday, the Parliament of Iraq passed an emergency finance bill to pay debts to Iran to ensure gas and electricity supplies.
According to the media reports, Iran owed Turkmenistan around $1.8 billion in payments for gas delivered to Tehran until January 2017. Last year, Javad Owji said Iran is determined to settle its natural gas debt to Turkmenistan as soon as possible.