Iran, which sits atop the world's second-largest gas reserves, supports the swift formation of an OPEC-style organization for natural gas.

"We believe that the world's main gas producers should create such an organization as soon as possible," Iranian Ambassador to Russia Gholam-Reza Ansari said as major gas producers will discuss the idea in June at the GECF annual meeting in Moscow.

"Such organization could be useful for both gas producers and gas consumers," the ambassador whose country first floated the concept, told Ekho Moskvy radio.

Senior experts, appointed by the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) members at a meeting in Doha in 2007 to evaluate the idea, will report the conclusion of their studies on the plan in Moscow.

Iran and Russia, owners of the world's largest gas reservoirs, have put their weight behind the establishment of such organization.

The United States and the European Union are wary of possible creation of the organization which would lead to the growing political and economic influence of gas producers.

MK/MMN