Gazprom is exploring the possibility of participating in Iran's oil and gas development projects, deputy CEO of Russia’s top gas producer said Tuesday.
"As of today we are reconsidering our participation in hydrocarbon projects in Iran," Vitaly Markelov said, ISNA reported.
Gazprom, he said, is not interested in playing a role in the construction of a gas pipeline from Iran to Oman, but this does not mean other ventures will be put on hold forever.
"Our mission to undertake projects in Iran has not been completed yet," Markelov noted, adding that a joint coordination committee is expected to be formed to revise the feasibility of previous agreements.
Gazprom, Russia's fourth largest gas producer, reported in December 2017 that it had signed a roadmap agreement on implementing hydrocarbon plans in Iran and a memorandum of understanding and cooperation on a liquefied natural gas project.
Meanwhile, in November 2018, the Russian firm and the National Iranian Oil Company signed some memorandums of cooperation in the gas sector. The documents stipulate partnership in developing Iranian gas fields and gas transportation.
Gazprom was supposed to provide NIOC with the result of its technical surveys and development plans for three Iranian offshore gas fields in the Persian Gulf, namely North Pars, Kish and Farzad-A and Frazad-B gas fields. But the new US sanctions put the ventures on hold.
The United States reimposed sanctions in November on Iranian oil exports after President Donald Trump last spring unilaterally pulled out of a 2015 accord between Iran and six world powers.
Iran and Oman reached an agreement to construct a gas pipeline in 2015. Based on the agreement, the latter would buy 28 million cubic meters of gas per day for 15 years.
