Iran, Armenia to establish joint energy working group

Iran and Armenia have agreed to establish a joint working group aimed at deepening bilateral energy cooperation, advancing discussions on a new commercial framework for natural gas exports, and exploring the construction of a joint oil refinery, Iranian news agency Mehr reported on July 25, 2026.

The agreement was reached during high-level bilateral talks in Tehran between Iranian Petroleum Minister Mohsen Paknejad and Armenia's Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, David Khudatyan.

Addressing the meeting, Paknejad commended Yerevan for its diplomatic support during challenging periods and underscored Tehran’s commitment to broadening economic ties between the neighbouring nations. He outlined a comprehensive portfolio of prospective initiatives, including increased bilateral trade, the export of Iranian engineering services, the delivery of petroleum products, and joint industrial infrastructure development.

While current energy exchanges between the two nations operate primarily under a long-standing "Gas for Electricity" swap arrangement, Paknejad disclosed that Iran has put forward a new commercial model aimed at boosting natural gas delivery volumes to Armenia.

To operationalise these agreements, both sides committed to launching the joint working group expeditiously, with instructions to deliver preliminary assessments ahead of the next scheduled round of bilateral talks.

By Tamilla Hasanova