"[Exports to] Europe definitely could be considered," Alireza Kameli said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, published on Tuesday.
According to the top Iranian official, Tehran has been in talks on the construction of floating LNG facilities with several European companies, including the Golar LNG international operator of LNG carriers. The project is due to be implemented in less than two years, Kameli added.
Iran also mulls the supply of gas to its neighbors in the Persian Gulf, namely Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, as the countries do not have significant own reserves, and a pipeline to them will be short.
Iran considers Saudi Arabia, its outspoken political opponent, a major potential buyer.
"They don’t have the choice but to approach Iran," Kameli said.
In July, Iran and the P5+1 group, comprising Russia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, reached a deal ensuring the safe nature of Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, including embargoes on trade in gas and oil.
On January 16, the International Atomic Energy Agency verified Tehran’s compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), opening the way for Iran's return to the global energy market.
