TEHRAN, March 01 (Shana) -- Iran says it will start sending natural gas to neighboring Iraq during the first months of the next Iranian calendar year which starts on March 21.

Deputy of International Affairs at National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) said an Iraqi delegation of experts and power executives is now visiting the metering station of a gas pipeline near the Iraqi border and the exports will begin after March.

Azizollah Ramezani told Shana that Iraqis have indicated readiness to import natural from Iran and the transfer will start in a short period.

"Iran is fully ready to export gas to Iraq and will do so as soon as the Iraqi side indicates readiness to receive Iran's gas," said Ramezani.

Senior Iraqi energy officials are scheduled to visit Iran to discuss future cooperation with their Iranian counterparts in Tehran, he added.

Iran's gas exports to Iraq will began with 4mcm/d and can rise to 35mcm/d.

By SHANA