Addressing the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, Iran’s president condemns Washington’s economic coercion, promotes joint investment in the natural gas sector and underscores Tehran’s commitment to closer cooperation with Russia and other partners.

MOSCOW -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Moscow on Tuesday that U.S. military intervention in the Persian Gulf has disrupted energy pricing, supply and transit and put global economic growth at risk, and called on the world's major gas suppliers to condemn and "effectively counter" Washington's "economic terrorism" against Iran.

Addressing the eighth GECF summit, Pezeshkian said the U.S.-Israeli military aggression against Iran, which struck energy facilities and disrupted energy transfers, has endangered global energy security and the wider economy, according to a transcript of his remarks carried by Iranian media.

He also condemned a naval and air blockade imposed by Washington on Iran and pressure on other countries to comply.

"Today, U.S. military interventions in the Persian Gulf region do not only affect regional actors; by creating serious shocks, they disrupt the process of energy pricing, supply and transfer and endanger economic growth worldwide," Pezeshkian said.

He called on GECF members to strengthen cooperation in two areas: "strategic governance and management" and "technical-engineering operations."

In the strategic domain, he said, the focus should be on market stability and expanding natural gas trade regionally and globally.

In the technical domain, he called for joint investment across the gas value chain, from production to processing, transmission and consumption, alongside technology upgrades to improve productivity and reduce environmental impact.

Pezeshkian said the forum, over more than two decades, has become a symbol of multilateral gas diplomacy and a platform for dialogue, exchange of experience and coordination among member states, and could play an effective role in resolving global energy problems.

He called for addressing the forum's statute and summit declarations, "particularly in developing technologies and sustainable environmental management methods, developing regional and global gas markets, maximizing the role of natural gas resources in the value chain, and combating energy poverty".

Iran, a founding member of the GECF and holder of the world's second-largest proven gas reserves, is ready to play a more active role in multilateral energy diplomacy, knowledge exchange and investment in gas infrastructure, Pezeshkian said.

He put Iran's annual gas production capacity at 280 billion to 300 billion cubic meters, maintaining its position as the world's third-largest producer, and said natural gas accounts for about 70 percent of the country's energy mix, with the national grid covering 95 percent of the population.

"Foreign investors can, without concern, use the incentives and facilities offered in the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors and benefit from Iran's unique capacities within the framework of mutual interests," he said.

Pezeshkian also paid tribute to martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, saying he played a significant role in strengthening the GECF through his initiatives and support.

On the sidelines of the summit, Pezeshkian met Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, with the two leaders reviewing bilateral relations and emphasizing the importance of deepening political and economic ties and leveraging existing potential to strengthen cooperation.

They discussed cooperation in the energy sector, expansion of economic and commercial interactions, and strengthening coordination among gas-exporting nations.

The meeting came a day after senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan held talks with Iran in Tehran in an attempt to prevent the West Asia war from reigniting.

Upon arriving in Moscow, Pezeshkian said Iran-Russia relations have moved beyond the signing of memoranda of understanding, with both sides working to implement their comprehensive strategic treaty across economic, scientific, cultural, security and political fields.

"The problem lies in U.S. unilateralism, which seeks to advance its affairs through bullying. Together with Russia and other nations, we are pursuing the realization of multilateralism in the world," he said upon arrival.

Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of the GECF summit on Tuesday, with the two sides reviewing the latest developments in bilateral relations and discussing ways to strengthen joint cooperation, IRNA reported.

Putin said Russian-Iranian trade turnover grew by 10.4 percent in the first eight months of this year. He said Russia is fulfilling all its commitments on joint projects with Iran, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Pezeshkian thanked Putin for Russia's support on political, security and economic matters, and said unilateral U.S. actions were pushing Tehran and Moscow toward deeper multilateral cooperation.

"We are able to resolve our regional problems without dependence on America," Pezeshkian said, adding that the two countries could expand relations in scientific, economic, industrial, cultural, security and military fields if there is the will.

Putin said the two sides discussed the regional situation in their private talks, adding that the conditions are a source of concern "not only for others, but above all for our country, which has close cooperation with Iran".

Pezeshkian also welcomed the holding of a Russian culture festival in Iran and said Tehran has approved the establishment of a Russian state radio and television office in the country.