TEHRAN, Iran, Nov.22
Trend:
Iranian government's foreign policy priority is to develop trade with neighboring countries. The Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline could increase export, said the researcher at Center for Strategic Studies, Trend reports citing ILNA.
The new administration is expecting to solve the disagreements with Turkmenistan and resume cooperation in the gas sector, Vali Kaleji noted.
Importing gas from Turkmenistan would increase Iran's capacity to export itself, he explained.
Cargo transit from Iran to Turkmenistan, Central Asian countries, and east of Russia will improve by resuming ties between Iran and Turkmenistan.
The upcoming 15th ECO Summit scheduled for November 28 in Ashgabat would discuss the gas issue between Iran and Turkmenistan. The delayed gas payment issue is to be resolved via barter, cash, swap, and implementing projects, he indicated.
The TAPI gas pipeline operation would partly supply gas to Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.
Afghanistan, India, Pakistan seek to diversify energy routes and, Iran could be a source of energy for these countries.