Tehran - (dpa) - Iran has confirmed that it needs tens of billions of dollars in investments in the natural gas sector.

Bloomberg news agency commented that this reflects how the sector will struggle to boost its production even if the United States lifts sanctions against Iran.
Iran has the largest proven gas reserves in the world after Russia. However, Oil Minister Javad Oji said that the country may have to import this fuel from abroad in the coming years.

The Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) quoted the minister as saying: "We have to invest 80 billion dollars in the coming years... In the absence of sufficient investment, we will have to import."

He added that Iran also needs to pump more investments into oil refineries to ensure that it continues to be able to meet domestic demand for diesel and gasoline.
Western oil and gas companies largely suspended their projects in Iran after former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran, and the subsequent tightening of sanctions against them.