Iran’s role in future of global gas diplomacy
By Delaram Ahmadi
Staff writer
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) held its 8th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Moscow on Tuesday, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in attendance. Iran viewed his participation as an opportunity to strengthen its position within the GECF and expand energy cooperation with Russia. Masoud Dashti Derakhshan, a senior energy analyst, told Iran Daily that Iran’s influence within the forum would depend on the quality of its proposals and its ability to turn shared interests into tangible outcomes. Rather than simply participating in discussions on the future of global gas cooperation, Iran should play an active role in shaping it. This is how it can strengthen its global energy role by turning its resources and expertise into tangible commercial and diplomatic gains.
IRAN DAILY: How can the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) help strengthen regional stability and global energy security amid rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Persian Gulf?
DASHTI: I think the GECF has a real opportunity here, and it should take it more seriously. The Persian Gulf is not just another regional hotspot. It is a vital part of the global energy system. Any serious disruption to energy infrastructure or maritime routes in this region quickly affects supply chains, prices and economies far beyond the Persian Gulf itself. In my view, the Forum should not limit itself to being a place where producers simply talk to each other. It could establish standing mechanisms for consultation during periods of heightened tension, focusing on the exchange of information about potential supply disruptions, infrastructure vulnerabilities and risks to gas transit. Energy security is not only about how much gas we can produce. Reliable transportation, predictable commercial relations and open lines of communication matter just as much. Of course, the GECF cannot resolve every political dispute, and it should not try to replace existing diplomatic mechanisms. But it can help reduce uncertainty, encourage more responsible behavior and keep channels of communication open even when political relations become difficult. In the current environment, that kind of contribution would genuinely support both regional stability and global energy security.
President Pezeshkian and Acting Oil Minister Hamid Bovard called for stronger cooperation among gas-producing countries. What practical diplomatic steps can the GECF take to protect the interests of its members against unilateral sanctions and external political pressure?
The first practical step, I believe, is for the GECF to strengthen its capacity to assess properly how unilateral sanctions and external political restrictions affect gas-producing countries — their investment decisions, access to technology and the reliability of international supplies. The Forum should remain a professional energy institution, not a political alliance. Its strength lies in bringing producers together around shared economic interests and providing a credible platform for dialogue with consumers and international institutions. It is not, and should not become, a mechanism for circumventing sanctions.
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