Putin, Iran’s Security Chief Discuss Pipeline to Supply Russian Gas to Iran

Darwin, November 7: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei have discussed the possibility of building a pipeline to transport natural gas from Russia to Iran, as the two countries seek to strengthen their bilateral relations.

The issue was discussed during a meeting in Moscow on Thursday, November 5. The talks also focused on expanding cooperation between the two countries, CBS News reported.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, described the talks as a highly significant exchange of views, according to the Iranian Embassy in Moscow.

“During my meeting with Vladimir Putin, we discussed the construction of a gas pipeline from Russia to Iran,” Rezaei said.

He explained that the proposed project aims to help Iran address its domestic gas shortages while also facilitating the sale of Russian natural gas to neighbouring countries.

Despite being one of the world’s largest natural gas producers, Iran has struggled with persistent gas shortages for years. Strong domestic demand, infrastructure limitations and pressure on production facilities have contributed to the problem. The recent war involving the United States and Israel has further complicated the country’s energy situation.

Tehran claims that during the most intense phase of the conflict, which lasted around 40 days, US and Israeli forces targeted critical Iranian infrastructure. Natural gas processing facilities were among the reported targets.

Against this backdrop, a pipeline to import natural gas from Russia could provide Iran with an alternative source of energy supplies. It could also potentially turn Iran into an important transit corridor for delivering Russian gas to neighbouring countries.

However, no details were provided after the meeting regarding the proposed pipeline’s potential route, construction costs, timeline or expected gas supply capacity.

Source: CBS News