While international sanctions against Iran were being enforced, the National Iranian Gas Transmission Company (NIGTC) was quietly building a gas pipeline to neighboring Iraq. And now with most restrictions on Iran lifted the country is ready to begin sending its gas to an energy-starved Basra as well as to other Iraqi cities.

NIGTC Managing Director Mohammad-Ali Emam says "the pipeline is complete on the Iranian side and will be presently inaugurated by senior Iranian officials to start pumping gas to Iraq" he said.

According to a six year gas deal signed by the two countries, Iran will supply Iraq with a daily amount of 25mcm of natural gas.

The gas will be fed to Iraq's gas network from Iran's 6th gas trunkline (IGAT 6). An offshoot of IGAT will cross Iranian city of Khorramshahr to reach Basra. IGAT 6 transfers gas from the giant offshore South Pars gas field in southern Iran to the border province of Khuzestan.