TEHRAN - Iran is ready to lay gas pipelines for transfer of gas from Tehran to Singapore and from Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, to Tabriz (East Azarbaijan), said foreign minister's senior advisor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili here on Saturday. Ardebili told hundreds of college students, professors and academicians at the Islamic Azad University that due to its relative geographical privilege, Iran has the potential to be turned into major purchaser of gas and oil from the regional states. This, commented Ardebili, would cut costs, while serving the interests of the contracting parties. He said Iran plans to purchase Turkmen gas for re-export to such countries as Pakistan and Turkey. Iran is against any plan to lay pipelines under the Caspian Sea bed for transfer of of gas, due to its environmental hazards, said Ardebili, adding that Iran serves as a natural bridge for transfer of energy from the Caspian Sea to the world markets through the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. He even proposed that in order for Kazakhstan to transfer energy to China, it had better lay a pineline to Turkmenistan and then to Iran and Persian Gulf. He added that implementation of the project for transfer of gas and oil to markets in China and Japan via the Iranian territory would be more economical. Ardebili specified that Iran is willing to be turned into the crossroad for transit of energy in the region. He concluded that Iranian officials believe that Iran would be the cheapest, most economical and safest route for transfer of oil and gas to both Southern and Western markets. (IRNA)