Making the remarks in his talks with reporters on the sidelines of the weekly cabinet meeting, Javad Owji attached great significance to energy diplomacy and added the Ministry of Petroleum and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have made great efforts in this regard.

Iran’s share in importing, transiting, and swapping gas in the region is growing, said the minister, continuing, “The 13th (incumbent) administration has paid the debt Iran owed to Turkmenistan for importing gas in the previous governments.”

Asked why Iran, as the world’s second-largest holder of gas reserves, imports gas, Owji said, “Russia is the largest holder of gas reserves in the world and statistics show it has outlined plans for its transit and swap share. Iran is also trying to do so and has so far achieved desired results.”

Elaborating on the 13th administration’s performance, he said, “During the past 20 months, oil, gas, refining, and petrochemical sectors have witnessed [good] developments, including moving toward [construction] of refineries beyond borders for the first time after the Islamic Revolution. We use the extraterritorial capacities to process oil, prevent the selling of raw materials, and create higher added value.”

The minister noted that oil products cannot be sanctioned as the world needs them.