To promote energy diplomacy and cooperation with neighboring and Latin American states in different sectors, particularly in oil, gas, and petrochemical industry, the 13th (incumbent) administration has planned to regain market share around the globe.

The revival of Iran-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan gas swap, the increase in gas exports, the collection of foreign countries’ debts, the growth in oil and petrochemical trade, the construction of refineries and petrochemical complexes beyond the borders, and other achievements are the outcome of the successful energy diplomacy of the Oil Ministry under the 13th administration.

Oil minister role ‘pivotal’

Fereydoun Abbasi, a member of the Parliament’s Energy Committee, is convinced that Oil Minister Javad Owji has played a “pivotal” role in reviving the country’s energy diplomacy.

The MP has called for economy and foreign ministers to fully cooperate with the Oil Ministry to achieve the goal.

Abbasi described Owji as a “spirited” figure, who has managed to break the locks fitted on the energy diplomacy and help the country get desired results.

Sanctions skirted

Iran’s Oil Ministry has proved that sanctions can be circumvented by exercising energy diplomacy, said another lawmaker.

Abdolali Rahimi Mozaffar, a member of the Presiding Board of the Parliament’s Energy Committee, who made the remarks in his talks with SHANA, lauded the ministry’s performance and added, “The incumbent administration has given new life to energy diplomacy and effective measures can be carried out through it.”

The parliamentarian said energy diplomacy can now play an invaluable role in turning threats into opportunities.

The oil sector is an opportunity for the country that had been sometimes turned into a threat due to inappropriate approaches in the past decades, regretted Rahimi Mozaffar.

The Oil Ministry’s energy relations and negotiations with countries such as neighboring states of Oman and Turkmenistan will undoubtedly help promote energy diplomacy, said the lawmaker. 

‘Positive’ policy

Mostafa Nakhaee, a member of the Parliament’s Energy Committee, believes that the promotion of energy diplomacy between Iran and neighboring states is among the “positive” approaches adopted by the 13th administration, particularly the Oil Ministry.

“The energy sector is one of the areas we can use as a leverage amid sanctions,” said the lawmaker, adding, “The more we develop our cooperation with neighboring and Latin American countries, the more room we have to maneuver and the easier we can bypass sanctions.”

Iran has the capacity to boost its oil and gas exports and turns into an energy hub in the region, he said.

Turning into energy hub

Malek Shariati Niasar, the Iranian Parliament’s Energy Committee spokesman, also believes that gas cooperation with the neighbors could turn Iran into an energy hub in the region.

The lawmaker called for seizing the opportunity and swapping gas from Turkmenistan.

The MP praised the Ministry of Petroleum for promoting energy diplomacy and added, “In the past, all attention was focused on Western countries and the gas deal with Turkmenistan was canceled due to poor energy diplomacy, inflicting damage on the country’s gas sector and even traders.”

Now, the positive approaches in energy diplomacy have helped clear the debt Iran owed to Turkmenistan for importing gas in the previous governments and expand Tehran-Ashgabat economic relations, Shariati Niasar said.

‘Successful’ performance

Another member of the Parliament’s Energy Committee, Seyyed Mousa Mousavi, has described the ministry’s performance in the economic and energy diplomacy sector as “successful” and “transformative”.

Touching upon the expansion of relations of Iran with neighboring states, including Oman and Turkmenistan, under the 13th administration, the lawmaker said, “The increase in Iran’s oil exports, the development of the country’s ties with neighbors, and the revival of economic and energy diplomacy are promising and show that the country is going in the right direction.”

He added the energy document Tehran and Ashgabat have recently signed could help Iran turn into an energy hub in the region.

Mousavi added the oil revenues and facilitation of exports play a major role in increasing the country’s foreign currency reserves.

Iran’s trade with neighboring states has witnessed ‘tangible’ growth since the 13th administration took over, said the parliamentarian, expressing hope that the development would promote Iran’s economic position in the world.