SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz says Turkey will continue buying natural gas from Iran despite sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic by the West.
"It is out of question for us to take a step backward," Yildiz said Wednesday. "Furthermore, we have not been asked to take such a step,” he added.
Yildiz said that Tehran supplies 18 to 20 percent of the gas consumed by Turkey, which makes it the second exporter of gas to Ankara.
The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Over the false allegation, Washington and the European Union have imposed unilateral illegal sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
In a new move, EU member states on October 15 announced a package of sanctions against Iran, which focuses on Iranian banks, trade and gas exports.
The US Senate also approved new sanctions against Iran's energy, port, shipping and shipbuilding sectors on November 30 in a bid to mount economic pressure on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear energy program.
Iran refutes allegations over its nuclear activities and argues that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.
AR/MA- www.shfaqna.com/English
Source: Press TV
