Greece Wants Iran in European Energy Market Once Sanctions Lifted

Greece hopes Western sanctions against Tehran will be lifted "soon" so Iran will be able to participate in regional energy supplies, Greek Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis told Sputnik Friday.

ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik), Anna Liatsou — Commenting on a possibility of natural gas deliveries from Iran through Greece to Europe, Panagiotis Lafazanis said:

"I can’t make a forecast right now, because there are sanctions against Iran. And we hope that these sanctions will stop soon so Iran could participate in the energy routes in the region."

Iran and the P5+1 group of international negotiators comprising Russia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, France and Germany are currently in talks on a final comprehensive agreement aimed at ensuring the peaceful nature of Iranian nuclear activities. The agreement is expected to be completed by the June 30 deadline.

If signed, the deal will see the gradual lifting of sanctions that were originally imposed on Tehran by the West over fears that the country was developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear energy program.

On Thursday, Spiros Paleoyannis, chief executive of Greek public gas corporation DEPA, told Sputnik that Iran is unable to substitute for Russia as a major supplier of natural gas for Europe, but could play a secondary role in the European energy market.