(VOVworld) - Iran is ready to supply gas to European countries, said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a joint press conference with his Kazakh counterpart Erlan Idrissov in Astana on Monday.

Zarif said Iran does not at all intend to replace or rival Russian gas exports in these countries.

Iran, which has the world’s second largest natural gas reserves, is making an effort to boost its gas production by increasing foreign and domestic investment, especially in its South Pars gas field.

Iran is currently supplying gas to Turkey and Armenia and is due to begin pumping gas to Iraq this spring.