TEHRAN (Iran News) According to a report by IRNA, citing Iraq’s Al-Maalouma News Agency, Ahmed Mousa Al-Abadi, spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, said that Iran informed the ministry it would completely suspend gas flows to Iraq for one week. The shutdown is due to ongoing maintenance and repair work on gas pipeline infrastructure taking place within Iran.

Al-Abadi stated that Iranian gas exports to Iraq have already been halted for three days and are expected to resume in four days once maintenance work is completed.

He added that the Ministry of Electricity, in coordination with the Ministry of Oil, is currently relying on alternative fuels to keep power plants operating. Electricity production remains stable, and power stations continue to function despite the reduced gas supply.

The spokesperson noted that the ministry has prepared for peak winter electricity demand through continuous maintenance, reconstruction, and expansion efforts at power generation stations. He also said coordination with the Ministry of Oil is underway to secure domestic fuel supplies until gas imports from Iran resume.

According to IRNA, Iraq requires 35,000 megawatts of electricity to meet national demand, and roughly one-third of its power generation depends on imported Iranian gas.

A five-year extension of Iran’s gas export agreement to Iraq was signed on March 27, 2024, between Majid Chegini, then-head of the National Iranian Gas Company, and Ziyad Ali Fadel, Iraq’s Minister of Electricity. Under the contract, Iran supplies up to 50 million cubic meters of gas per day to help operate Iraqi power plants, with export volumes adjusted seasonally depending on Iran’s domestic needs.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the 29th International Oil Exhibition, Tavakoli said that during the past winter, Iran faced a gas supply-demand imbalance of 350 million cubic meters per day — a situation that has been building up over several years. Despite this, the country managed the winter energy demand with coordinated efforts, achieving several operational milestones.

Tavakoli highlighted that for the first time, Iran’s gas network reached the production of 880 million cubic meters of dry gas per day. This was achieved under difficult conditions, including record-low temperatures in 11 provinces, depleted gas reservoirs, and an increased number of new users — approximately 900,000 households.

The successful navigation through winter 2024-2025, according to Tavakoli, was the result of early planning and interdepartmental coordination within the Oil Ministry. Despite ongoing refinery overhauls, gas supply stability was maintained. Notably, gas distribution to households, especially in the north, faced no disruptions, even as output from certain refinery units exceeded nominal capacity limits.

Among key developments, 17 gas compression stations were launched, 30 turbo-compressors were deployed at critical sites, and gas transmission capacity in eastern Iran increased by 50 million cubic meters. Tavakoli praised the Oil Minister’s initiative to launch early fuel management meetings, which played a decisive role in ensuring preparedness.

On the efficiency front, Tavakoli criticized the widespread use of low-efficiency domestic heaters, which make up a large portion of household consumption. With 20 million heaters in operation, many still function at only 60–70% efficiency. He confirmed the rollout of high-efficiency heaters (above 85%) free of charge for consumers, provided old units are returned.

Regarding pricing policy, Tavakoli said gas tariffs fall under the jurisdiction of the Planning and Budget Organization. Last year, higher rates were applied to excessive users in the top consumption brackets, with some gas bills in Tehran reaching up to 300 million tomans. He emphasized that pricing tools are crucial for encouraging responsible consumption.

On gas supply projections for the upcoming winter, Tavakoli noted that to meet the full demand from all consumers, Iran would require 1.2 billion cubic meters of gas per day — a figure that remains unattainable with current infrastructure. As such, alternative fuels will continue to supplement winter energy needs, especially in industrial sectors, to ensure uninterrupted household supply.

Tavakoli reported a 16% year-on-year increase in fuel deliveries to power plants during the first 45 days of the Persian calendar year (starting March 20), with a notable growth in gas’s share — indicating stronger supply performance

In terms of international gas trade, Tavakoli confirmed Iran’s strategic priority under its 7th Development Plan to deepen energy ties with neighboring countries and establish a regional gas hub. However, he clarified there are no current plans or serious negotiations for gas exports to Europe. He emphasized that the focus remains on regional cooperation, particularly with countries in the CIS.

Responding to questions about gas transit to Turkey via Turkmenistan, he said an export agreement has already been signed and became operational at the end of winter. Iran continues to support the swap arrangement and hopes to finalize a long-term gas purchase contract with Turkmenistan.

Regarding cooperation with Russia, he revealed that negotiations are ongoing, with discussions focused on pricing and payment mechanisms for a proposed project with a 55 bcm annual capacity. Iran is studying whether existing infrastructure via intermediary countries — Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia — can accommodate Russian gas imports, as Iran and Russia do not share a land border.

Tavakoli highlighted the importance of gas imports for stabilizing supply in northern Iran, where no major gas production sources exist. He said facilitating such projects is part of Iran’s legal obligations under the 7th Development Plan.

On gas storage, he said the Sarajeh Qom storage facility is nearing completion and will be operational before the end of summer. A second unique project is under study, which would store gas in a salt dome for the first time in Iran, offering strategic proximity to energy infrastructure.

During winter 2024–25, he said, 80% of gas was consumed by households, commerce, and smaller industries, with only 18% going to power plants and major industries. Residential supply remained the top priority, while large industrial consumers were served based on coordination with the Ministry of Industry.

He reiterated the need for better consumption management, urging implementation of energy efficiency mandates requiring a 1% annual improvement in industrial gas usage. He criticized the geographic placement of energy-intensive industries, noting that while 75% of Iran’s gas is produced in the south, 92% is consumed in the north.

Discussing plans to boost output, Tavakoli said South Pars remains the primary source, with recent enhancements in gas processing capacity at Phase 14 thanks to new turbo-compressors. The completion of Iran’s 9th nationwide transmission pipeline from Ahvaz to Dehgolan will further improve transport capacity.

He noted that weather is a major factor in gas planning, beyond the company’s control. If next winter mirrors the milder winter of 2022–23, conditions will be favorable. However, another harsh winter like 2023–24 would pose significant challenges, though planning efforts are already underway.

Tavakoli also welcomed foreign investment in Iran’s gas sector, highlighting recent promising negotiations. He encouraged energy-intensive industries to invest in upstream gas projects, offering them a share of the output in return.

Regarding gas exports to Pakistan, he confirmed Iran’s readiness but said the initiative depends entirely on the Pakistani government. On Turkey, he said Iran is working to extend its gas export contract, set to expire in 2026, while reaffirming the internal supply priority.

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Speaking to ILNA, Ali Kar said that raising issues related to Iran’s sanctions is actually for getting concession or discount or for getting concessions in deals with other countries.

He noted that sanctions have not affected gas exports too much but it has created problem in retrieving money for the exports and some try to use it for getting concessions from Iran or in deals with other states.

On export of gas to Pakistan, Kar said that export of surplus gas production to neighboring states like Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and the Persian Gulf states should be prioritized and it is very important in terms of energy strategy. He touched upon gas export to Pakistan and said that Pakistan was keen Iran to finance the construction of the gas pipeline as the exporting country but Iran’s financial resources do not let it happen and actually the project has remained suspended.

He noted that Pakistan is not in good economic condition for now and it gets its energy demands from other countries with getting considerable discounts and if it does not want to get gas from Iran it will replace Iran gas with Turkmenistan gas but in this case it will have to pay much more cost as Islamabad has to get past the gas through Afghanistan and it will inflict financial and security cost on this country. He added that if Pakistan constructs some 400 kilometers of gas pipelines, it can receive natural gas from Iran for its power-consuming cities.

Kar then pointed to talks with India for exporting gas to this country and said that some projects were not implemented but they are on the agenda. He admitted that Pakistan currently is getting LNG from Qatar and the issue of exporting gas to Qatar is not serious for now.

On the role of Russia in Iran’s gas exports projects, he said that what is clear is that Iran and Russia are two main gas rivals and each tries to maintain its market and to prevent rivals from entering it. He then pointed to the long distance with Europe for gas exports and said although Russians created some hurdles, the truth is that Iran has less chance for export to Europe because of its infrastructures and Tehran should prioritize gas export to neighboring countries while Europeans are working to reduce energy consumption and they want to replace fossil energies with renewable and atomic energy, and gas consumption in those countries is facing downward trend.

Kar reiterated that gas export to Europe will cost Iran very high and it is not logical to focus on it and it should focus on exporting gas in Asia and especially to countries like China, Japan and South Korea.

He noted that Iran’s contract with Pakistan for gas export is based on the take-or-pay system and Iran can take the issue to the international arbitration court but politically it is not logical and Iran should not burn such contracts and should let them remain valid and it will have also positive affect on the relation between the two states.

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IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called for efforts to restart the export of natural gas to Turkey after carrying out necessary repairs to the pipeline transferring gas to the neighboring country.

In a meeting with his Turkish counterpart on Monday, Foreign Minister Zarif stressed the need to resume gas exports to Turkey and repair and reconstruct a section of the gas pipeline that has been damaged.

Natural gas exports from Iran to Turkey came to a halt in April after an explosion and fire at a pipeline on the Turkish side of the border.

The top Iranian diplomat, who is leading a delegation to Turkey, further expressed solidarity with and support for Turkey in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences in the meeting.

Foreign Minister Zarif and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu also weighed plans to make up for a decline in trade exchanges between Tehran and Ankara over the past four months due to restricting regulations in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

In two rounds of negotiations, the Iranian and Turkish foreign ministers agreed on holding a virtual meeting of the Astana Process Summit in the coming weeks before an actual summit in Tehran at the first possible moment, and also discussed the issues relating to Syria, Yemen, Libya, and the fight against terrorism.

Zarif expressed solidarity with Turkey in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

He said that Iranian and Turkish medical teams will stand together in fighting coronavirus.

Commenting on the war in Yemen, he said Turkey is after a peaceful solution for Yemen.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Iran’s top diplomat referred to a virtual meeting on Syria, saying the event will be held aiming to materialize peace in Syria and in the framework of Astana agreement.

Cavusoglu, for his part, said stability in Iran is very important for Turkey. “The global pandemic in the world has taught Turkey and Iran to cooperate and trust each other more,” the Turkish foreign minister added.

He also stressed that Turkey, as before, intends to cooperate with Iran in all spheres, including the settlement of conflicts in the Middle East.

According to reports, Tehran-Istanbul direct flights, halted under the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, are to be resumed as of July 21.

The flights will be carried out by an Iranian and a Turkish airline, the reports say.

Flights between Iran and Turkey were temporarily suspended as of nearly three months ago from the closure of borders.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

Torbati also said Iran’s gas refinery and transmission capacity will reach more than a billion cubic meters a day by the end of the current Iranian year on February 20, 2020.

Iran is currently increasing gas exports to a number of countries including Turkey, Iraq, Armenia and Azerbaijan, officials say.

Torbati said in March Turkey, which depends on gas-fired plants for nearly 40 percent of its electricity, had requested to purchase more natural gas from Iran.

Turkey is currently a key importer of Iranian natural gas, with 11 billion cubic meters shifted along the Tabriz-Ankara pipeline annually.

Montazer Torbati said NIGC was planning to start liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in the coming years.

The official said that NIGC, supported by powerful domestic contractors, could step in major projects in neighboring countries.

He said Iran had not made a final decision as to sue Pakistan for the gas pipeline.

“We are fully ready to export natural gas to Pakistan; maybe the recent meetings by officials of the two countries pave the ground for gas exports,” he said.

He said NIGC was not in agreement with Turkmenistan over the amount of their dues. However, “we are considering cooperation with Turkmenistan for gas imports either by state or private sectors.”

NIGC registered 750 million cubic meters of gas transmission record last calendar year (which ended on March 20), the official said. “This year, the volume can cross 900 mcm.”

Torbati further added that Iran’s gas exports to Turkey, Baghdad and Basra reached 40 mcm/d on average last calendar year.

Iran’s gas exports to neighboring Iraq will cross 35 mcm/d this year, he went on to add.

On increasing the price of gas in the country, he said that the company does not intend to increase the price, adding that one of the priorities of the company is to feed the petrochemical companies.

On the Oil Show, he said that holding such exhibitions is one of the suitable ways to confront the U.S. sanctions because it can put on display national capabilities for foreigners.

Torbati also said that by 3 years, the whole country will come under coverage of gas supply and Iran will be the first whose territory is fully under gas supply coverage.

He also added that the company is pursuing joint investment with Azerbaijan for transfer of gas to Europe.

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