Climateupdated 52m ago2 min read
Abbas Araghchi Says Iran-Russia Cooperation With GECF Strengthens Energy Security
“He noted how the recent unprovoked US and Israeli military aggression against Iran”
“Key issues on the agenda include protecting energy infrastructure during wars and crises”
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Iran seeks to expand gas trade with GECF members and build a common gas market. Iran and Russia will coordinate on gas production, exchanges, and export policy at GECF summit.
Putin-Pezeshkian energy talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said promoting cooperation between Iran and Russia and member countries of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) plays a key role in ensuring energy security, expanding investment scale and diversifying fuel supply routes. Araghchi said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was set to pursue greater cooperation in Moscow alongside counterparts from 11 gas-producing countries during a pending visit to the Russian capital. Araghchi said the talks would focus on Russian investment in Iranian oil and gas fields, technology transfer, equipment supply and joint construction technical capacity.
Araghchi also said the coordinated efforts would directly contribute to protecting and stabilizing energy security in the region as well as on the international stage. Araghchi said President Masoud Pezeshkian was expected to address the eighth summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Moscow.
Strait of Hormuz disruption
Araghchi attributed challenges facing global energy and food security to the United States’ coercive measures in the region and said recent unprovoked US and Israeli military aggression against Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted global gas supplies, particularly in Asia. Araghchi said Iran closed the waterway following the launch of the aggression on February 28 and said the Islamic Republic and the US agreed on a 60-day reopening period as part of a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding in June. Araghchi said American violations forced Tehran to re-establish the closure and said Iran’s IRGC says two supertankers attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz through an unauthorized route struck naval mines.
Araghchi said International Energy Agency estimates showed more than 112 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) passed through the strait in 2025, accounting for approximately one-fifth of global LNG trade. Araghchi said 90 percent of the gas transiting the strait is consumed in Asian markets and said gas prices in Europe have risen sharply while storage levels ahead of winter remain significantly below those recorded a year earlier.
GECF summit, gas swaps
Acting Oil Minister Hamid Bovard said Iran would seek to expand natural gas cooperation with Russia and other members of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), focusing on field development, gas exchanges, and export policy coordination. Bovard said Iran would present its positions at the Eighth GECF Summit of Heads of State and Government in Moscow and hold bilateral talks with relevant ministers to discuss cooperation. Bovard said Iran called for discussions on protecting energy infrastructure during conflicts, expanding gas exchanges, exploring the establishment of a common natural gas market, and coordinating international export policies.
Bovard said Iran maintained good relations with Russian energy companies, had signed contracts with them for field development, and was holding talks on natural gas exchanges. Bovard said the two countries reached an overall agreement on gas swaps during a meeting between their presidents in Turkmenistan and that “The agreement is almost finalized,” adding that gas swaps could begin soon if a pipeline project through the Republic of Azerbaijan is completed.