Given the existing geopolitical circumstances, the United States and European Union both say they would oppose Iran's participation in the Nabucco pipeline project. But that isn't stopping Tehran from saying it is willing to commit at least 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually to the venture.

Ahmad Nouri, the head of the economic section of the Iranian Embassy in Turkey, said Iran is ready to become a supplier for the new route. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. "We benefit from sending our gas to Europe and we want to join the Nabucco project," the ISNA news agency quoted Nouri as saying on July 14.

Earlier, the Iranian National Oil Company said it could supply 31 bcm to the project. Seifollah Jashnsaz, the managing director of the state-owned company, told news site Shana.ir, "Replacing Iran with other reliable suppliers [ . . . ] does not seem practical."