Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, traveled to Ashgabat on Tuesday, November 1, leading a diplomatic and economic delegation. The purpose of this trip was to consult with Turkmen officials and explore ways to expand cooperation in various fields, including energy. In this context, Araghchi met and discussed with Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
Expansion of Gas Cooperation
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had announced before Araghchi's trip that gas diplomacy is one of the main pillars of cooperation between Iran and Turkmenistan. This country, due to its vast gas reserves and transmission infrastructure connected to Iran's network, is recognized as a practical option for meeting Iran's gas needs. During the 40-day war, part of Iran's energy infrastructure was damaged, increasing the need for gas supply from foreign sources.
With the fourth largest natural gas reserves in the world, Turkmenistan has a high capacity for cooperation with Iran. The connection of the two countries' gas transmission lines and the possibility of transferring about 50 million cubic meters of gas daily further emphasizes the importance of this cooperation. Recent contracts between Iran and Turkmenistan, including an annual swap of up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Iraq and a trilateral agreement for gas transfer from Turkmenistan to Turkey via Iran, indicate practical steps to strengthen these relations.
Impact of Sanctions and the Need for Diversification in Trade Routes
Sanctions and geopolitical restrictions in the southern waters have limited Iran's access to trade routes. In this situation, developing connections with Central Asian and Caucasian countries and utilizing the capacities of the Caspian Sea has become increasingly important. Northern and northeastern routes can help alleviate pressures on Iranian trade and provide access to new markets.
Iran and Turkmenistan cooperate in several important transport corridors, including the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway. These routes connect Iran to Central Asian countries and ultimately to South Asian markets.
Araghchi's trip to Ashgabat can be seen as more than just a bilateral diplomatic meeting. Iran's need to strengthen energy security and diversify foreign trade routes in the context of regional instability has made Turkmenistan a key partner in Tehran's neighborhood policy. In this regard, gas diplomacy and commercial cooperation with Turkmenistan can help meet energy needs and strengthen Iran's economic ties.
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