Raisi says Iran's gas production strong despite US sanctions
Iran's president declared that US sanctions have failed to put a brake on his country's lucrative natural gas production.
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said his country is ready to serve as a regional safe route for natural gas and connect key producers to consumer markets.
Speaking at a summit of Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Doha Feb. 22, Raisi added that Iran's energy strategy seeks to boost gas production and provide greater access to the regional nations.
Iran possesses one of the world's largest gas reserves, second only to Russia. The country's proven gas resources, according to its Oil Ministry data, stand at over 1.2 trillion cubic feet, nearly 18% of the world's total. Iran's energy sector, however, has for decades faced direct or indirect Western sanctions over Tehran's nuclear and missile programs as well as its regional policies.
"Despite America's oppressive, unilateral and illegal sanctions, the Islamic Republic has managed to ramp up its natural gas production thanks to the expertise and commitment of its workforce and the domestically developed technologies," the Iranian president said.
