According to IRNA, Bijan Zangeneh told reporters in Moscow on Thursday evening that Europeans disagreed with the US government's behavior.

“We are ready to close ranks with other regional countries to maintain the security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and this must be done by ourselves (Persian Gulf states),” he said.

Mr. Zangeneh called on regional countries to consider Iran as their friend because “Iran is everyone's friend and, I believe, that we have absolutely on enemies in the region and the enemy is outside of the region, and Iran has never been the instigator or creator of any disputes in the region."

Providing a recap of his trip to Moscow, the Iranian Minister of Petroleum said: “On the first day (Wednesday, October 2), I attended the third Russian Energy Week in Moscow and addressed one of its specialized panels on the role of gas industry in the world; I also outlined the stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran when discussions arose on anti-Iran sanctions and regional security.”

Referring to the speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the forum, Zangeneh said Putin was clear and firm on drone attacks on Saudi Aramco’s oil facilities in his speech.

"Western countries want, but cannot (resist the US). They have to be able to expand their economy; emerging economies may grow their own balance of power, but currently, conditions are not favorable and this has allowed the US to display such unilateralist behavior," he said, underlining the inability of European countries to counter US’s unilateral behavior.  

Referring to the 21st meeting of the Ministers of Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Mr. Zangeneh said regular discussions were raised during the meeting and the current secretary general of the forum was reinstated for two years.

According to Zangeneh, the fifth GECF summit was scheduled to be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in December this year, and the next summit was to be held in Qatar two years later.

He further said that an assessment of the current gas market and its future was also considered during the GECF ministerial meeting in Moscow regarding liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas pipelines.

He said Russia was very keen on expanding its presence in the LNG market as the largest exporter of natural gas in the world. The country is faced with US pressure in both gas pipeline and LNG trade.

"By and large, unilateralism is threatening the world, and Europeans do not agree with these American behaviors," he said.

Oil and Energy ministers of GECF meet once a year and the meeting is held in one of the member states. The 20th GECF ministerial meeting was held back in November 2018 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela are the 12 main GECF member states, and Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Norway, Oman and Peru are the forum’s observing members.

Members of the GECF account for roughly 44 percent of the world's gas output, hold 67 percent of the world's gas reserves, and enjoy a %64 share in the world’s gas pipelines. They also have a 66% share in the global LNG market.