Iran's minister of oil stated that Ankara had no right to export the gas, which it was importing from Iran, ISNA reported from Tehran.

"This has been noted in the 1996 agreement note which was signed between Iran and Turkey," said Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh.

Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh

Before this some informed sources had announced that Turkey was negotiating with some countries so to export an amount of the gas, which it was importing from Iran for a lower price than the Russians.

According to Reuters, the comment follows a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Turkey earlier this month in which energy matters are thought to have been discussed.