ISTANBUL: Iran's national gas company may bid for a Turkish natural gas distributor and has sought the preliminary documents in the privatisation tender, Turkey's Zaman newspaper reported on Monday, citing energy officials.

A successful bid by the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) for 100 percent of Ankara's Baskent Gaz network would further integrate Iran and Turkish energy ties, despite Western sanctions against Iran for its nuclear programme, Zaman reported.

Iran is Turkey's second-biggest supplier of natural gas after Russia. Turkey has won exemptions from the United States to import Iranian fuel after it sharply reduced the amount of oil it buys from the Islamic Republic.

The latest deadline for bids for Baskent, which serves 1.4 million people in the capital Ankara, is Friday.

Its sale has faced a series of delays and cancellations in recent years. High valuations and tough funding conditions during the euro zone crisis have also forced the postponement of other Turkish privatisations.