SHANA � The former Iranian Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum stressed the need to halt unilateral transnational sanctions against some GECF members.







Addressing the Second International Gas Seminar on "How to Deal with the Current Challenges and Create a Sustainable Future for the Gas Market" in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on Wednesday, Mohammad Hossein Adeli said the sanctions were used as a means of war against countries and some members of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), and added: "The sanctions against GECF members would affect the development of the natural gas market negatively, and not only would they limit the realization of our goals, but would also jeopardize the global energy security.�

Adeli said: �The reality is that recent developments have lowered gas prices, new exporters have been added [to the market], competition has soared, risk and uncertainty for the future has enhanced, and there is intense strategic competitiveness, while gas remains an important source of revenue for gas exporting countries.�

He said the only reason for the satisfaction of the gas exporting countries had been the rise in its share in the world energy mix in recent years, adding: �The important question is whether this issue is sufficient for us (gas producers) to be satisfied with the current trend.�

"In my view, that the share of gas in the global energy mix has increased from 21% in 2014 to 22 or 23% in 2019, and that it was expected for this clean energy to take up to 26% of the global energy mix by 2050is not at all enough to convince us of a secure future.�

Iran's Resistance against Sanctions

The former secretary-general of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum ended his remarks by touching on the issue of sanctions imposition on countries and depriving nations of their right to development and enjoy a dignified life, saying: "The purpose of economic terrorism is to prevent nations from having normal trade and relations with one another. Unilateral transnational sanctions, as a means of war, must be stopped.�

Adeli added many countries in the world, including those producing and exporting gas, have been directly or indirectly affected by this cruel and unjust war tool. �We must warn against its negative results; sanctions against GECF members have a negative impact on the development of the natural gas market. It not only restricts the realization of our goals but also endangers the energy security of the world.�

Despite the fact that Iran is targeted by cruel and even brutal sanctions regime, �it is proud to resist the sanctions with dignity and be able to continue its development.�

Iran has managed to bring its gas production to 230 billion cubic meters per year and is the world's third-largest gas producer. By increasing the share of gas in its energy mix to 70%, Iran has connected 95% of the Iranian households to the gas distribution network. "We are confident that we will succeed in our sacred endeavor and that the future will be ours," said the head of the Iranian delegation in the GECF meeting in Malabo.