A member of the Iranian National Parliamentary Energy Commission proclaimed that Tehran officials are negotiating with the Turkmen authorities to resume gas imports, expressing his hope that the oil and energy ministries will take measures to prevent interruptions in the supply of electricity and gas in the winter in Iran.

In an interview with the parliamentary information agency ICANA (Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency) Sayed Musa Mousavi, referring to reports of a shortage of electricity and gas in winter, said: “According to the head of the Iranian Program and Budget Organization, the electricity deficit in the country ranges from 11,000 to 12,000 megawatts.".

Mousavi added that in solving this issue, as in previous years, resources as gas imports from Turkmenistan should be used.

Turkmenistan has cut off gas supplies to Iran since January 1, 2017. Ashgabat was forced to cut gas supplies to Iran due to the accumulation of a large debt of the Iranian company for the gas supplied earlier. Despite lengthy negotiations, the parties could not agree, and the state concern "Turkmengaz" was forced to file a claim with the International Arbitration Court.

Last year, the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) announced its verdict over the Iranian-Turkmen gas dispute in favor of Turkmenistan.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi met on September 17, 2021 on the sidelines of the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which took place in the capital of Tajikistan – Dushanbe. During this meeting the presidents of the two countries agreed to resolve the gas issue.

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