TEHRAN – Members of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) condemn politicized gas markets, the IRIB broadcaster quoted Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh as saying on Monday.

Having visited Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Zanganeh fielded questions from the press where he highlighted that in the announcement draft compiled for the GECF leaders, it has been stipulated that any transboundary and unilateral embargo against the gas market and GECF members is condemned and the members have Russia’s support for it as well.

The reason for the condemnation, according to the minister, is that any political decision made in this regard means a country would be deprived of relevant technology and market participation simply owing to political grounds.

Although world powers are trying to point the finger at producers for politicized markets, the other way around has been the case with world powers putting pressure on other countries, examples of which are Iran, Libya, Iraq, and Russia.

Iran was hosting the 3rd Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GEFC) summit on Monday in Tehran, where major gas producers exchanged ideas on a range of issues, including the future of the global gas market.

AK/