Turkey, Iran May Sign Energy Deal In A Month

ANKARA - Turkish and Iranian officials are working on technical details to finalize an energy deal between the two countries in a month, Turkish energy minister said on Monday.
"Technical delegations are working on it. I will probably go to Iran in 15 days together with Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. We will continue to work to finalize it in a month," Hilmi Guler told reporters when asked why Turkey and Iran did not sign the deal at Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Istanbul last week, which was announced earlier by Iranian officials.
Asked whether the deal was cancelled due to U.S. pressure on Turkey, Guler said Turkey was an independent country.
"Turkey's interests are in question here. We look after our benefits. We have to make our investments considering Turkey's supply security," he said.
(TÇ-MS)
(ECO)