The members of the Parliament are convinced that the 13th (incumbent) administration has strengthened Iran’s position in energy diplomacy, lauding Oil Minister Javad Owji’s pivotal role in reviving it.

The gas swap deal signed by Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan, the selling of oil in the United States’ backyard and the exporting of a great volume of Iran’s gas condensates and heavy crude oil to Venezuela, the expanding of relations with Latin American states by signing contracts and memorandums of understanding (MoUs), the exporting of technical and engineering services to Oman, the bolstering of Iran-Russia amicable ties in the oil sector by inking a 40-billion-dollar MoU between the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Gazprom, and the boosting of Iran’s gas exports to neighboring countries by around 20 percent are among the measures the current government of Iran has done since it took office.

Strengthening status

Ebrahim Matinian, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s Energy Committee, said promotion of energy diplomacy by the 13th administration has strengthened the country’s position in this arena.

He added Owji’s participation in the international events is aimed at strengthening Iran’s status and energy relations with regional and transregional states in line with the 13th administration’s strategies and on the basis of mutual interests.

Minister measures

Alireza Varnasseri, another member of the Iranian Parliament’s Energy Committee, said Owji has made a great effort to empower Iran in the international arena and regional organizations.

He praised the measures the oil minister has carried out to promote energy diplomacy and cooperation with independent states in oil and gas industry.

Oil minister ‘pivotal’ role

Fereydoun Abbasi, also a member of the Parliament’s Energy Committee, said 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 energy diplomacy and help the country get desired results.

'Strong point'

Energy diplomacy is one of the “strong points” of the 13th (Raeisi) administration, said lawmaker Hossein Hosseinzadeh.

The parliamentarian added energy diplomacy is one of the ways to neutralize sanctions and the 13th administration under President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi has used it properly.

The lawmaker, who is a member of the Presiding Board of the Parliament’s Energy Committee, praised the incumbent government for signing oil contracts with Latin American countries and exporting engineering services and equipment to these countries.

He also lauded Oil Minister Owji for promoting energy diplomacy, saying the 13th administration has developed relations with different countries, including Latin American, African, and Asian states.

Touching upon the contracts signed between Iran and Venezuela, Hosseinzadeh said Iran has years-long experience in the energy sector and is able to implement projects successfully.

He expressed hope the international interactions and economic and political diplomacy will help the country solve its problems.

‘Positive’ approaches

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.

‘Transformative’ performance

Another member of the Parliament’s Energy Committee, Seyyed Mousa Mousavi, has described the Oil 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 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.

New life given to energy diplomacy

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 commended 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.”

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

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 Oil Ministry 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.