Pezeshkian: Iran-Turkmenistan Relations Set to Strengthen, Promising Mutual Benefits
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed the Islamic Republic's strong interest in enhancing relations with Turkmenistan across multiple sectors.
The Iranian President has emphasized that bolstering cooperation between Tehran and Ashgabat is crucial to ensuring the prosperity and security of both countries.
During a meeting held in Tehran on Tuesday, Pezeshkian engaged in discussions with Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, focusing on strategies to enhance bilateral relations between the two nations.
The official emphasized that enhancing and solidifying cooperation, particularly in the realm of shared and reciprocal investments between Iran and Turkmenistan, can assure future prosperity, comfort, friendship, and security for both nations.
Iran has expressed a strong interest in importing natural gas from Turkmenistan, citing its robust capacity to export and engage in gas swap arrangements with neighboring nations.
Pezeshkian highlighted the importance of constructing a versatile gas pipeline linking the two nations, capable of serving various functions such as domestic consumption, export, and facilitating gas swaps.
Iran seeks to broaden its collaboration with Turkmenistan beyond energy, focusing on transport, trade, investment, and cultural exchanges, according to a statement.
Meredov expressed Turkmenistan’s perspective on fostering long-term economic collaboration with Iran, emphasizing a commitment to advancing trade routes and strengthening border markets.
During the 18th Joint Economic Cooperation Commission in Tehran, Meredov announced that Turkmenistan aims to boost the volume of natural gas transited through Iran. This initiative is part of the Central Asian nation’s strategy to leverage its strengthening ties with the Islamic Republic to enhance its energy export capabilities.
Iran has entered into multiple gas swap agreements with Turkmenistan in recent years, aiming to deliver an amount of natural gas equivalent to its imports from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan and Iraq.
The swap agreements enhance Iran’s capability to augment the supply of natural gas to its national grid customers in the northeastern region, which hosts significant population hubs and industrial centers.
Iran imports approximately two billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually from Turkmenistan to meet the increasing power demand in its northeastern region.
