Natural gas exports to Iraq and Turkey decreased by 46 million cubic meters per day, said Hamid Hosseini, head of the board of directors of the Iranian Association of Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals Exporters, the Iranian economic daily Finacial Tribune reported.

The unprecedented cold snap and a significant increase in domestic gas consumption have forced the National Iranian Gas Company to cut gas exports to Iraq and Turkey by at least 75 percent, Hosseini said.

According to contracts between the Association and the two neighboring countries, about 60 million cubic meters per day of gas should be sold to Iraq and Turkey, which has now been reduced to less than 14 million cubic meters per day, he said. 

Although both neighbors have expressed their dissatisfaction with the significant reduction, they had no other choice, and this is not the first time the company has reduced its exports during cold winter days, Hosseini added.