Pezeshkian: Cementing Tehran-Ashgabat ties guarantees mutual prosperity
Turkmen FM says gas swap via Iran typifies robust relations
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian underscored the role of strengthening cooperation with Turkmenistan, particularly through mutual investments, in guaranteeing long-term prosperity and security for both nations during talks with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Tehran on Tuesday.
“Deepening and strengthening cooperation, particularly mutual joint investments between Iran and Turkmenistan, can guarantee the prosperity, well-being, friendship, and future security of both nations,” Pezeshkian stated, as reported by IRNA.
The president emphasized the Islamic Republic’s commitment to elevating relations and expanding collaboration with neighboring countries, especially Turkmenistan, across various sectors, noting that while Iran is keen to import gas from Turkmenistan, it also possesses significant capabilities to export and swap gas with regional countries.
“The construction of the Iran-Turkmenistan gas pipeline must be designed and implemented to accommodate gas transfer capacity for all three purposes [domestic consumption, exports, and swaps],” he added.
Beyond energy cooperation, Pezeshkian highlighted Iran’s interest in broadening joint initiatives with Turkmenistan in economic, cultural, investment, road transportation, transit, and other fields.
Gas swap with Turkey
Meredov, who visited Tehran for the 18th session of the Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, during a separate meeting with Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, pointed to three key priorities for negotiations such as gas exports to Iran, joint development of gas pressure booster stations and pipelines, and gas swaps with third countries via Iran.
“Turkmenistan currently produces over 80 billion cubic meters of gas annually, a significant portion of which can be exported through cooperation with Iran,” he said.
Meredov described the rapid launch of gas swaps with Turkey via Turkmenistan and Iran as “a symbol of exemplary collaboration between the two countries.”
“We also have ambitious plans for gas exports to Iran,” the Turkmen foreign minister added.
During the meeting, the oil minister affirmed the Iranian government’s “serious resolve to develop energy cooperation with Turkmenistan,” highlighting the swift implementation of the Turkmenistan-Turkey gas swap agreement via Iran.
He expressed his expectation that “other energy-related agreements, such as the gas import deal from Turkmenistan, will progress with similar momentum.”
Third electricity transmission line
In a separate meeting with Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi, both sides stressed the urgency of expediting the completion of the third Mashhad-Mary electricity transmission line —a flagship bilateral project.
Aliabadi underscored the need to expand cooperation in water management, energy, and technology transfer.
Officials from both countries reported significant progress on the transmission line during the high-level Turkmen delegation’s visit to Iran. The project, aimed at enhancing energy exchange and grid stability, has seen the majority of its construction phase completed. Once operational, it will substantially increase electricity import-export capacity between the two nations and bolster Iran’s role in Central Asia’s energy market.