Russia and Iran Forge Energy Alliance to Counter Global Isolation

Russia plans to begin supplying natural gas to Iran as early as 2025, strengthening an emerging energy alliance between the two internationally isolated states, The Gaze reports citing Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine. 

The move will utilize existing gas infrastructure and include the construction of new pipeline branches to boost capacity. Current logistics will rely on the Mozdok-Shirvanivka-Hajikabul-Astara-Abadan gas pipeline, which could enable the transfer of up to 1.8 billion cubic meters of gas per year. 

The broader vision for the project is ambitious: Russia and Iran have agreed on the route for a new pipeline through Azerbaijan, with a planned potential of up to 55 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas annually. Final agreements on the route were reached in early 2025.

Beyond natural gas cooperation, Moscow and Tehran are expanding their partnership into the nuclear sector. A new nuclear power plant is planned for Iran, financed with the support of a Russian credit line.

For Russia, the energy partnership with Iran represents a significant opportunity to diversify its export markets as Western sanctions continue to limit its economic options. It also offers another mechanism for compensating Tehran for its military assistance to Moscow in the ongoing war against Ukraine.

For Iran, the project addresses a pressing domestic need: supplying gas to consumers in the northern regions of the country, where local gas fields are sparse, while most reserves are located in the south.

Iran is actively cooperating with Russia in the military sphere, sponsoring the war against Ukraine. In particular, it has recently become known that Russia may have received about 200 Iranian short-range ballistic missiles. Additionally, over 8,000 Iran-made drones have been launched by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion.

As The Gaze previously reported, Russia has officially ratified a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with Iran, formalizing a 20-year bilateral pact that strengthens cooperation across military, security, economic, and geopolitical spheres.