Iran ready to become Gas hub: Raisi
Iran is ready to become an energy hub and a safe route for distribution and transit of natural gas between producers and consumer markets, President Ebrahim Raisi said on Saturday.
With its vast natural gas reserves, technologies and geographic location, Iran plans to develop bilateral and multilateral relations with gas market countries, the president said, adding that Tehran is particularly interested in countries from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf, and its eastern and western neighbors, according to IRNA.
“Iran’s strategic approach is based on increasing the production and export of natural gas and providing access to this type of energy to as many people in the region as possible,” Raisi said in his address at the 7th Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit.
“I am using the opportunity to invite international investors and investors from member countries of the forum to participate in the projects of Iran’s energy sector, including the projects of the natural gas industry,” he added.
Raisi arrived in the Algerian capital Algiers on Saturday morning to attend the 7th GECF Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The Iranian president was welcomed by Algerian Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui at Houari Boumediene International Airport.
During the visit, which comes at the official invitation of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Iranian chief executive is scheduled to meet with other top officials from the 19-member gathering of the world’s leading natural gas producers.
The two presidents are also set to sign several memoranda of understanding on the sidelines of the international meeting.
Raisi’s trip marks the fourth visit of Iranian presidents to the North African country, which took place with a gap of about 14 years after former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit in 2010.
The GECF, which is comprised of 13 permanent members and seven observers, was established in 2008 based on an initial proposal by Iran as one of the world’s largest holders of natural gas reserves.
Raeisi’s trip comes on the backdrop of Iran’s efforts to boost relations with countries in North Africa, including Sudan, with which Iran had strained relations in recent years, and with Egypt, a country that has had no diplomatic relations with Iran since 1979.
On the second day of his visit, the Iranian president will be officially welcomed by Tebboune. In addition to the Raisi-Tebboune talks, the two countries’ high-ranking delegations will meet and sign several cooperation documents.
Meeting with Qatari Emir
Raisi also met Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Saturday on the sidelines of the GECF summit.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries and ways to strengthen and develop them. They also discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to regional and international developments of common concern.
From Qatari side, the meeting was attended by Chief of the Emiri Diwan Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi.
On the Iranian side, the meeting was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and a number of senior officials.