A senior official at Russia’s Gazprom company said Tehran can be Moscow’s gas rival in future, adding the issue should not create hinderance in the way of bilateral cooperation in gas field development.

Exclusively talking to IRNA on condition of anonymity, he said Gazprom company is to invest in Iran’s production and exploration areas.

Due to its skills and experiences in the area of gas, Gazprom is willing to widen related relations with the Iranian side after the upcoming removal of sanctions, said he.

He further described the future of gas market as bright, adding Russia and Iran due to having the largest proved gas reserves can expand cooperation in line with national interests.

He hoped the Russian company would exchange modern technologies with Iran, adding the Iranian engineers are well capable of attracting new knowledge and technology.

Gazprom is a global energy company that holds the world’s largest natural gas reserves. Its major business lines are geological exploration, production, transportation, storage, processing and sales of gas, gas condensate and oil, sales of gas as a vehicle fuel as well as generation and marketing of heat and electric power.