Iran Ready to Provide Energy Transit Route for Tajikistan

An Iranian minister voiced the country’s readiness to offer Tajikistan an energy transit route for the economic development of the region.

In a meeting with Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirodjidin Mukhriddin in Tehran on Friday evening, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardekanian hailed the central Asian country’s enormous potential for power generation, saying, “Around 15 percent of the total capacity of the world’s hydroelectric power plant lies in Tajikistan. Once operational, such capacity will definitely play a significant role in the development of the region.”

“Therefore, Iran is ready to provide Tajikistan with an energy transit route and supply the main infrastructure for economic activities in the region,” Ardekanian noted.

Highlighting Iran’s great potential for cooperation with all neighboring states in the water and electricity sector, the minister said the top Tajik diplomat’s visit to Iran could accelerate economic cooperation between Tehran and Dushanbe.

Ardekanian also noted that his ministry is in charge of the joint commissions on economic and trade cooperation with Tajikistan, Russia, Afghanistan and Armenia, saying the Iranian Energy Ministry is in contact with the neighbors for economic interaction in all sectors, not the water and electricity industries alone.

For his part, the visiting Tajik minister called for efforts to promote cooperation between the two countries, stressing that the ties between Tajikistan and Iran will be never severed.

Expressing satisfaction with the presence of Iranian companies in Tajikistan’s energy projects, Mukhriddin said plans have been devised to strengthen energy cooperation with Iran.

The visiting minister also hoped that the 13th meeting of Iran-Tajikistan joint commission, due to be held in Tehran within the next few months, would enhance their bilateral cooperation.

The bulk of Tajikistan’s transit and economic problems is due to lack of access to the sea, Mukhriddin added, saying his country seeks to use the capacities available in Iran’s southeastern port city of Chabahar to resolve its problems.