Tehran and Moscow continue to coordinate the terms of Russian gas supplies to Iran, Iranian Deputy Oil Minister and National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Managing Director Saeed Tavakoli said, as per Interfax.
"Under the memorandum of understanding between the Islamic Republic and Russia on the issue of Russian gas supplies to Iran, a two-stage program is envisaged. Intensive and practical negotiations have taken place between the two countries. Only two issues remain to be settled - the gas price and the payment mechanism. Work on these two fronts has not yet been completed," Tavakoli said in an interview with the Azerbaijani agency Trend.
Both sides view the prospects for Russian gas supplies to Iran positively, and negotiations on this matter are ongoing, he said.
Iran is ready for cooperation with Azerbaijan on issues of swap gas supplies from neighboring countries and its transit through its territory, he said.
"If Azerbaijan reaches agreements with other neighboring countries on gas exchange through Iranian territory, the Iranian side is ready to cooperate in this area. Iran's gas infrastructure allows for cooperation in the field of gas swap and exchange. Discussions are ongoing on this issue, and there is hope that they will culminate in practical steps," Tavakoli said.
A short-term contract for the swap of Turkmen gas to Azerbaijan through Iran was also successfully implemented, he said. Currently, work under this contract has been suspended.
Tavakoli added that there is a long-term contract for the transit of natural gas to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through Iranian territory between the National Iranian Gas Company and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR), the term of which has been extended, and "under this agreement, very effective cooperation is being carried out."
According to Iran's economic development program until 2029, the country pays special attention to cooperation with countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and neighboring states in the areas of gas trade, swap operations, and transit, Tavakoli said. In this regard, the Iranian side is ready to ensure the transportation of gas from Turkmenistan and other neighboring countries through its territory to third states.
According to his information, negotiations on the gas contract between Iran and Turkey will be completed in the near future. The sides held preliminary and clarifying consultations, and positive agreements have been reached.
Gazprom signed a strategic memorandum with NIGC in 2024 on working out the organization of Russian gas supplies to Iran. Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev said in April 2025 that at the first stage, Russian gas supplies to Iran via the existing infrastructure through Azerbaijan could amount to up to 1.8 billion cubic meters per year, and the potential is estimated at 55 bcm per year.
mrchub.com