Iran and Syria tend to establish a gas pipeline from Iran to Syria passing through Iraqi territories and reaching European countries via Mediterranean Sea, he said adding that Tehran and Damascus will soon establish a joint work group to start studies on the route of the pipeline.
He said that Iran and Iraq have formed technical, legal and financial work groups to study various dimensions of concluding the deal on the establishment of the pipeline from Iran to Iraq, he said.
He said that gas transit from Iran to Syria and then to Europe will be one of major topics to be discussed between the two countries during the visit of an Iranian high-ranking oil delegation to Baghdad in near future.
Iran and Syrian have signed a long-delayed agreement on gas transit to Europe, he said adding that Damascus will soon start negotiations with Tehran on importing 2-3 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Iran.
Last week, the Iraqi oil ministry confirmed it is ready to allow the transit of Iranian natural gas destined for Syria and Mediterranean littoral countries.
Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani said in a statement on August 12 that "Iraq does not mind facilitating extension of the Iranian gas pipeline through its territory to Syria and the Mediterranean Sea".
The Iraqi oil ministry says both sides will form a committee to study the route the Iranian gas pipeline will take through Iraq to Syria and the Mediterranean Sea.
Two weeks ago, Iran's Deputy Oil Minister and Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Javad Owji said it would take at least three years for the construction of a major pipeline capable of transporting around 60 million cubic meters of gas per day before the export could begin.