TEHRAN, Oct 21: World gas powers Russia, Iran and Qatar moved on Tuesday to strengthen cooperation and Tehran said there was consensus to set up an Opec-style group which is likely to worry western consumer nations.

Russia’s gas export monopoly Gazprom said it had agreed with Iran and Qatar to form a “big gas troika” and that it should become a permanent body holding regular meetings. But unlike Iran’s Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari, Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller did not refer to the establishment of a “gas Opec” after talks with Nozari and Qatar’s Energy Minister Abdullah al-Attiyah in Tehran.—Reuters