Iran still keen to import gas from Russia despite record domestic production - minister
TEHRAN. Feb 18 (Interfax) - Iran is still interested in buying Russian gas to help eliminate the country's energy imbalance, Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said following a meeting of the Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission, which he co-chairs.
"Regarding gas production, we are taking every step to increase it. It is currently a record 750 million cubic meters per day. But we are still looking for opportunities to import gas from Russia as there is a need due to the imbalance in our country," Paknejad said.
He also said Iran welcomed Russian companies interested in investing in and developing the country's oil and gas fields.
The Russian Energy Ministry said in a statement following the intergovernmental commission meeting that "the sides stated their mutual interest in gas imports from Russia." "Negotiations in this area are nearing completion with the parties discussing understandings reached on several issues, which can be finally agreed upon during separate meetings," it said.
The Iranian news agency Tasnim quoted Saeed Tavakoli, head of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC): "During hours of negotiations, we looked in detail at every clause of the contract to buy gas from Russia from a legal and commercial point of view. We still need to reach a final agreement on two issues: pricing and the form of payment. The contract for the export of Russian gas to Iran will move into the implementation phase once these two issues are resolved."
Gazprom signed a strategic memorandum with NIGC in 2024 to look at arrangements for supplies of Russian natural gas to Iran. Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev said in April 2025 that initially, Russian gas supplies to Iran via existing infrastructure through Azerbaijan could amount to up to 1.8 billion cubic meters per year. The potential is estimated at 55 bcm per year.
Iran's Shana news agency quoted Tavakoli as saying Iranian gas supplies to Turkey had not come ot a halt this winter. "Gas supplies to Turkey have not been interrupted at all, and talks are also underway to extend the contract for Iranian gas exports to that country," he said.
