As unilateral sanctions seek to marginalize Iran from global energy markets, the Oil Ministry under President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration has pursued the opposite strategy: deepening engagement with multilateral organizations, expanding bilateral talks on the sidelines of international summits and proposing new initiatives for cooperation with emerging economies.
Beyond established organizations such as OPEC, the ministry has maintained Iran’s engagement with influential institutions including the International Energy Forum, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS. The approach is part of a broader effort to preserve Iran’s position in the global multilateral energy architecture, with added importance under the country’s Seventh Development Plan.
Iran produces more than 280 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually, making it the world’s third-largest gas producer. Yet its share of global gas trade remains below 1%. Closing that gap has become one of the key objectives of the Seventh Development Plan and a major driver of Iran’s more active participation in international energy organizations.
The strategy reflects an effort to use multiple diplomatic channels — from specialized energy institutions to emerging economic groupings such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization — to mitigate the impact of sanctions and strengthen international cooperation.

Doha Talks Put Africa, Gulf Energy on Agenda

The 27th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Doha, Qatar, provided a platform for a series of bilateral meetings between Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and African and Arab counterparts.
Paknejad held talks with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, on opportunities for cooperation in gas and petrochemicals, as well as technology transfers. Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude oil producer and a major holder of natural gas reserves, is an important player in global energy markets.
In another meeting, Paknejad and Libya’s Oil and Gas Minister and GECF President Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek discussed Iran’s recent gas discoveries and opportunities for technical cooperation and joint investment in gas, petrochemicals and energy infrastructure. Libya is a longtime OPEC member and an important regional energy producer.
Paknejad also met Algerian Energy and Mines Minister Mohamed Arkab. Algeria is Africa’s largest gas producer and a founding member of GECF. Its gas production reached about 105 billion cubic meters in 2023, with nearly half exported through pipelines or as liquefied natural gas.
In talks with Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Al-Kaabi, Paknejad stressed the importance of continued constructive energy cooperation and the selection of a qualified and experienced secretary-general for GECF. Iran, a founding member of the forum, emphasized the need for a capable professional to lead the organization.

Iran-Russia Commission Looks Beyond Gas

The 19th Iran-Russia Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation covered a far broader agenda than energy, despite considerable attention to gas trade.
Seventeen specialized working groups addressed issues ranging from completion of the International North-South Transport Corridor to cooperation in the space industry, nuclear energy, trade, banking and finance, customs, mining, agriculture, health, culture, tourism, science and technology.
On the first day, the space, scientific and educational cooperation, tourism and regional working groups reached full agreement, while other groups covering customs, energy, finance, industry and trade, housing, transportation, water and the environment, labor and social welfare, and culture and education began intensive negotiations.
Mustafa Barzegar, director-general for Europe, America and the Commonwealth of Independent States at Iran’s Oil Ministry, said preliminary agreements had been reached on more than 50% of the issues discussed with the Russian side on the first day.
Seyed Ali-Mohammad Mousavi, deputy oil minister for international affairs and trade, said the final document of the 18th joint commission contained 193 provisions, about 75% of which had been implemented. The 19th session sought to resolve stalled projects while advancing the remaining commitments.
Four additional bilateral documents were also signed on the sidelines of the meeting.
Iran’s energy diplomacy in Eurasia also extended beyond Moscow. On Dec. 8, 2025, Paknejad met Belarusian Industry Minister Andrei Kuznetsov to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, underscoring Tehran’s efforts to broaden its regional partnerships.

BRICS Opens a New Route to India

Paknejad’s visit to India for the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers Meeting represented more than a commercial engagement. It was also an effort to redefine Tehran-New Delhi relations beyond oil trade.
The two countries have longstanding historical and cultural ties. Persian was once widely used across the Indian subcontinent, while the works of poets such as Hafez, Saadi and Rumi were studied in Indian centers of learning. Iranian architectural influence can also be seen in landmarks such as the Taj Mahal.
India was among the largest buyers of Iranian oil before U.S. sanctions were reimposed in 2018, at times importing more than 600,000 barrels per day from Iran. The two countries also discussed development of the Farzad B gas field and investment in upstream and downstream oil projects.
Although the return of US sanctions disrupted much of that cooperation, bilateral discussions never completely stopped. The development of Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor have remained important areas of cooperation.
During his India visit, Paknejad met with Indian Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Discussions focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in oil, gas and trade, as well as Indian participation and investment in Iranian oil industry projects.
Speaking at the BRICS energy ministers meeting, Paknejad referred to recent attacks on Iran’s oil, gas, refining and petrochemical infrastructure, describing them as a threat to global energy security. He said stability in global energy markets can be achieved only through cooperation between producing and consuming countries.
Paknejad also proposed establishing a “BRICS Energy Security Partnership.” Under the BRICS Energy Cooperation Roadmap for 2025-2030, the initiative would focus on protecting critical energy infrastructure, strengthening supply-chain resilience, promoting investment and facilitating information exchange among members.
Paknejad said Iran produces more than 280 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually, has oil production capacity of 4.2 million barrels per day and refining capacity of 2.4 million barrels per day. He said these capabilities could support broader energy cooperation among BRICS members.
Another highlight of the visit was the opening of the BRICS Digital Excellence Center for Smart Grids and Energy Storage. Paknejad described the center as a milestone in technological cooperation among BRICS countries, highlighting the importance of digital technologies, smart grids, energy storage, artificial intelligence and technical knowledge exchange for the energy industry of the coming decades.
He said the center could help narrow technological gaps among BRICS members while creating opportunities for technology transfers and joint projects.

Consolidating Iran’s Global Energy Role

The less-publicized side of Iran’s Oil Ministry activities over the past two years shows that the Pezeshkian administration’s energy diplomacy has extended beyond gas agreements with neighboring countries.
From bilateral meetings on the sidelines of GECF meetings in Qatar to broad-based joint commissions with Russia and Belarus, and from new initiatives within BRICS to renewed engagement with India, Iran has sought to consolidate its position in the global multilateral energy architecture.
Together with more visible efforts to maintain oil and gas exports, these diplomatic initiatives offer a broader picture of Iran’s strategy to preserve and expand its influence in global energy affairs despite sanctions and geopolitical pressure.