Heads of state arriving in Iran for GECF summit

The heads of state of nine countries are arriving in the Iranian capital, Tehran, for the third summit of the member states of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

On the sidelines of the GECF summit, which will be held in Tehran on Monday, presidents of the nine countries are scheduled to hold talks with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani.

Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow arrived in Tehran on Sunday and was officially welcomed by his Iranian counterpart.

President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is also in the Iranian capital. He was welcomed by Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Shariatmadari at the Mehrabad International Airport.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is also set to make a one-day visit to Tehran, during which he will partake in the GECF summit. During his stay, the Russian head of state will meet with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as well as President Rouhani.

Meanwhile, Iraqi President Fuad Masum is also in the Iranian capital to participate in the Monday summit. Upon his arrival, the Iraqi head of state was welcomed by Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayyebnia at Mehrabad Airport.

Iran, Russia, Qatar, Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and the United Arab Emirates are the main members of the gas exporting body. Observer countries are the Netherlands, Iraq, Oman, Peru, Azerbaijan and Norway.

The GECF members account for 42 percent of global gas output, 70 percent of global gas reserves, 40 percent of piped gas transfer, and 65 percent of global trade of liquefied natural gas (LNG).