TEHRAN – Iran has proposed expanding energy cooperation among countries in the 3+3 regional format to promote peace and stability in the South Caucasus by leveraging the region’s own resources and infrastructure.
Saeid Tavakoli, managing director of the National Iranian Gas Co., made the proposal Friday, during a specialized session at the eighth Russian Energy Week International Forum in Moscow, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Tavakoli highlighted existing natural gas pipelines and electricity transmission networks as opportunities to strengthen cooperation among countries participating in the 3+3 format.
The session, titled “Energy Cooperation in the 3+3 Format to Strengthen Peace and Security in the South Caucasus,” brought together senior officials and deputy ministers from the energy and petroleum ministries of Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia.
“Discussions about energy cooperation and security in the South Caucasus are not just about which route gas takes or how much is transported,” Tavakoli said. The more important question, he added, is how energy trade, industrial cooperation and economic ties can deliver lasting benefits to all participating countries.
He cited Iran’s history of gas industry cooperation with the former Soviet Union, gas swaps involving Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, gas and electricity exchanges with Armenia, and seasonal assistance to meet regional energy needs. He also pointed to Iran’s provision of gas to Georgia during an emergency in 2006.
Tavakoli said Iran’s substantial natural gas resources, electricity generation capacity, 41,000 kilometers of gas transmission pipelines and 480,000 kilometers of distribution networks give the country a strong position in regional energy cooperation.
Iran’s geographical location between major energy production and consumption centers also creates opportunities for gas swaps and transit, he said.
Referring to a 2024 memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Moscow on Russian gas supplies to Iran, Tavakoli said the first priority should be making better use of existing infrastructure.
The region already has gas transmission networks and the necessary infrastructure, he said, adding that stronger coordination is needed to use these capacities more efficiently.
As a second proposal, Tavakoli suggested that regional countries exchange natural gas or electricity seasonally, particularly during periods of peak demand or specific times of the year. Such arrangements could strengthen cooperation and ultimately contribute to lasting peace and stability, he said.
Other speakers at the session included Russia’s deputy energy minister, an official from the Russian Foreign Ministry’s economic cooperation department, a representative of Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR, the head of Armenia’s nuclear power plant and the chairman and founder of Georgia’s Sikha Research Foundation.
The eighth Russian Energy Week International Forum opened in Moscow on Wednesday with a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The event focuses on key issues in fuel and energy sector development, interregional cooperation and international partnerships in the energy industry.
This year’s program features more than 30 specialized sessions with over 100 international speakers. Topics include changes in oil markets, gas market development, investment in the electricity sector, emerging energy technologies, environmental protection, energy efficiency, international cooperation, education and workforce development.