Reframing of Iran's Energy Diplomacy in Natural Gas on the Horizon of 1420, Necessity or Choice?

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Energy Systems, Faculty of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Science & Technology Futures Studies, National Research Institute for Science Policy (NRISP), Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Knowledge-Base Economy, Technology Studies Institute, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

One of the most important areas of decision-making in the field of energy diplomacy is to trade and transit of energy carriers aiming to boosting international political security. Among various energy resources, natural gas is the main topic of this article due to high mutual dependence it created between interested parties. Using meta-analysis method and examining upstream documents and natural gas trade statistics of Iran and some of its regional competitors, this article analyzed the current challenges of Iran natural gas diplomacy and presented the corresponding solutions. So far, the main approach in Iran's natural gas diplomacy has been exporting this clean fossil fuel. Focusing solely on gas exporting no longer serves Iran's interests. The reasons are enormous; we challenge three of such. Firstly, the emergence of new gas production and consumption hubs in the region, increased geographical importance of Iran and the opportunities to playing a role in gas transit. Secondly, there are alternative routes try to ease Iran's advantage in gas transit and thirdly, increasing the gap between Iran's natural gas supply and demand. Therefore, Iran's natural gas diplomacy policy will cope with sort of opportunities and threats such as geographical importance due to the growth of gas production and consumption in the region and the threat of inability to meet domestic natural gas demand. Thus, exporting-natural-gas as the only strategy for the coming years should be reframed. What is argued is the export-import policy of gas and electricity could be taken into account together as an alternative.

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Strategic Studies of public policy
Volume 11, Issue 41
March 2022
Pages 116-135

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