MOSCOW (Shahid Ghumman): Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, addressing the eighth summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Moscow, described US and Israeli military actions and the unilateral sanctions imposed on Iran as a grave threat to global energy security.
The Iranian President said US economic sanctions against Iran, the naval and air blockade and military intervention in the Gulf had created instability in global energy markets. According to him, these measures were having negative effects on gas and oil supplies, energy transportation, price determination and global economic development.
In his address, President Masoud Pezeshkian alleged that the United States and Israel had carried out military operations against Iran on two separate occasions during political negotiations, as a result of which Iranian energy installations were damaged and the energy transmission system was affected.
He said the effects of these incidents were not limited to Iran or the Middle East alone, but global energy security and the international economy had also been affected.
Describing the unilateral US sanctions and the naval and air blockade of Iran as economic terrorism, the Iranian President said pressure was also being exerted on other countries to comply with these sanctions.
Masoud Pezeshkian called on the major gas and energy supplying countries to condemn these measures and to take effective steps to save global energy markets from instability.
The Iranian President warned that US military intervention in the Gulf did not affect only the countries of the region, but caused severe shocks in global energy prices, supply chains and the transportation system, which could endanger economic development around the world.
He said the organisation of gas-exporting countries had become an important platform of multilateral energy diplomacy over the past two decades. Through negotiations, exchange of experiences and joint cooperation among member countries, the organisation could play an effective role in resolving global energy issues.
President Pezeshkian urged the member countries of the organisation to adopt a joint strategy for stability in the global gas market, increasing regional and international trade and developing energy infrastructure.
Stressing the need for joint investment across the whole industry, from gas production to processing, transmission and use, he said modern technology, improved production and reducing environmental impact should also be the fundamental priorities of cooperation.
The Iranian President said Iran was among the founding members of the organisation of gas-exporting countries and ranked second in the world in terms of proven natural gas reserves.
He announced that Iran was ready to expand foreign investment in energy infrastructure, exchange of technology, joint projects and regional and international trade in gas.
According to Masoud Pezeshkian, despite years of unilateral sanctions, Iran had significantly increased its natural gas production capacity on the basis of its domestic capabilities. He described Iran as the world’s third largest gas producing country.
The Iranian President said natural gas accounted for around 70 percent of Iran’s total energy use, while 95 percent of the country’s population was connected to the national gas network.
He also invited foreign investors to benefit from the incentives and facilities available in Iran’s oil, gas and petrochemical sectors.
President Pezeshkian said that owing to its geographical position and proximity to important global energy routes, Iran could play an important role in making energy supplies more stable.
He said gas-exporting countries should not remain limited to policymaking alone, but should convert their existing capabilities into practical projects and joint economic benefits.
The Iranian President also stressed increasing international cooperation for fair prices of natural gas, balance in supply and demand, environmental protection and ending energy poverty.
At the beginning of his address, Masoud Pezeshkian thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government for hosting the summit in Moscow. He also appreciated the efforts of the Secretary-General of the organisation of gas-exporting countries and the secretariat.
The Iranian President paid tribute to Ayatollah Khamenei, mentioning his role in the development of the organisation.
Heads of state and high-level delegations from Russia, Iran, Qatar and other gas-producing countries attended the eighth GECF summit held in Moscow, where global energy security, gas trade and promoting cooperation among member countries were discussed.
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