Thursday, May 12 2022 10:30

ArmInfo.Armenia and Iran will consider the possibilities of increasing gas supplies from Iran to Armenia, Iranian Minister of Energy Ali Akbar Mehrabian stated at the  17th meeting of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission. 

The Commission has not met for two years because of the COVID-19  pandemic. 

"Happily, it is in the past, and we can now discuss possibilities of  developing the Armenian-Iranian relations," Mr Mehrabian said. 

Speaking of the high-level Armenian-Iranian political cooperation,  the minister stated that one of the most comprehensive documents was  signed at the meeting. 

"As regards economic relations, their current level cannot be  satisfactory as it is inferior to the level of our political  relations. Our high-level political relations necessitates our  thinking of developing our economic cooperation and increasing our  trade. 

As to whether Iran is considering increasing gas supplies to Armenia  in case the nuclear talks succeed and sanctions are lifted, Mr  Mehrabian said that the gas transit potential should be developed  given the global demand for gas.   

"The North-South main makes Armenia a very good option for transit of  goods. Iran has increased its gas exports to Armenia. I should say  that today's meeting has been attended by the director of the  National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), and agreements have been reached  on discussing an increase in gas supplies," Mr Mehrabian said. 

He stated that nothing prevents gas supplies to Armenia. 

As to the possibility of Azerbaijani forcing Armenia out of the  North-South corridor, Mr Mehrabian said that the memorandum of  understanding signed on May 11 contains a point on energy  transmission in the Iran-Armenia-Georgia direction. 

"Moreover, we have synchronized energy transmission lines from  Azerbaijan to Russia and we are going to do so with Georgia. We have  different seasonal conditions. Russia needs more electric energy in  winter, whereas we in Iran need more in summer. Therefore, the  diverse networks enable us to get the necessary amount and export the  surplus," the minister said.  

Iran is Armenia's third largest trade partner in terms of both  exports and imports. This January-March, Armenian-Iranian trade  totaled $140.2mln. Armenia's exports to Iran exceeded $23.9mln and  imports from Iran, $116.3mln. Iran's share in Armenia's foreign trade  remained 6.7%. The unfavorable balance of Armenia's trade with Iran  reached $92.3mln.