During a meeting in Tehran between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, the two sides emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in the energy sector, Eurasiatoday.ru reports.
President Pezeshkian stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran is interested in importing Turkmen natural gas and possesses the necessary capacity to export it and facilitate swap operations with countries across the region. He also highlighted the need to construct a new gas pipeline between the two countries to support domestic needs, exports, and swap arrangements.
Boosting Gas Swaps and Infrastructure Development
Ashgabat and Tehran are actively expanding gas swap mechanisms. A recently signed agreement provides for Turkmenistan to supply up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Iraq via Iranian territory. To implement this project, Iranian companies are constructing a 125-kilometer gas pipeline and three compressor stations. Once completed, these facilities are expected to increase swap volumes to 40 billion cubic meters per year.
Diversifying Turkmenistan’s Export Routes
With some of the largest natural gas reserves in the world, Turkmenistan continues its strategic push to diversify export routes. In March 2025, an agreement was reached to export Turkmen gas to Turkey through Iran. Under a deal between Turkmengaz and Turkish energy company BOTAS, up to 2 billion cubic meters of gas per year will be supplied starting from March 1, 2025.
Iran’s Role as a Regional Gas Hub
Iran is working to enhance its role as a regional hub for gas distribution. Pipelines such as the Dauletabad–Sarakhs–Khangiran line already enable Iran to import gas from Turkmenistan and reroute it to other destinations. These efforts aim to strengthen Iran’s energy security and bolster its economic influence in the region.
Opportunities and Challenges
Despite recent progress, challenges remain. In 2017, Turkmenistan halted gas deliveries to Iran due to a debt dispute. However, supplies resumed in 2023, signaling a renewed commitment to stable and mutually beneficial cooperation.
The growing energy partnership between Iran and Turkmenistan holds significant potential for promoting regional stability and economic development. Expanding infrastructure, scaling up swap operations, and diversifying export routes lay the groundwork for a resilient and forward-looking energy alliance between the two nations.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
May 21, 2025