Iran, Turkmenistan Strengthen Energy Cooperation, Sign 17 Cooperation Deals

Iran and Turkmenistan could soon increase cooperation in the energy sector, possibly paving the way to Turkmen gas exports to third countries via Iran.  

‘President expressed Iran’s readiness to forge closer cooperation with its northern neighbor in energy transit, adding the Islamic Republic is willing to keep natural gas imports from Turkmenistan’ reads a press release published on the website of Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani. 

The Presidents of the two countries met on Wednesday to sign 17 cooperation agreement in various fields. 

‘The documents are aimed at facilitating the expansion of all-out cooperation between Tehran and Ashgabat’ reads a second note released by the Office of the Iranian President.

In the meeting, Rouhani and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow also addressed cooperation in other sectors such as electricity and technical services.  

‘President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, for his part, … thanked Iran’s backing for his country on the international scene.’ 

Last week, the European Commission said that, as a consequence of the Turkish Stream, Russia will depend on another transit country, giving Turkey a strategic advantage. This could then translate in strategic concessions, which could then cause the Trans-Caspian pipeline to go ahead.

Last month, Azizollah Ramezani, director of international affairs at National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), said that Iran could transit Turkmenistan and Azeri gas to Europe.