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Iran is ready to expand the supplies of natural gas to Armenia, Iranian energy minister said on Tuesday following the 15th meeting of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission hosted by Yerevan, capital of Armenia. 

“Very good talks on the gas and electricity exchange have been conducted, and Iran is ready to expand the volumes of gas supplies to Armenia,” Reza Ardakanian told reporters in Yerevan, commenting on the question over statements of the Iranian side claiming the country is ready to sell natural gas to Armenia at affordable prices.

“I think talks will be held between Iran and Armenia in the near future. From the Iranian side, the talks will be conducted by the Ministry of Petroleum, with the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources representing the Armenian side. I think the outcome and news of these negotiations will be available to the public in the near future,” the minister said.

To note, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources, Hayk Harutyunyan announced over a week ago that Armenia has not received a more competitive gas price offer than the one received from Russia. According to the official, Iran has not so far made any proposal to sale natural gas at more affordable prices to Armenia.

Harutyunyan informed that Armenia imported a total of 382 million 700 thousand cubic meters of Iranian gas in 2017 (up by 2.7% from 2016) against the 1 billion 996 million cubic meters of the Russian gas (up by 7% from 2016). 

Meantime, the deputy minister added the talks with the Islamic Republic are underway.