Iran is ready to proceed with a much-awaited project to export natural gas to Iraq as soon as Baghdad takes measures to make the related payments.

Iran stated that natural gas exports to Iraq will start in September 2016. The Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC),Hamid-Reza Araqi, confirmed that Iran will initially ship 7 mcm/day to supply a power plant in Baghdad and a second route to Basra will be opened in 2017, with shipments eventually reaching 70 mcm/d.