Iran’s Acting Oil Minister has declared that global energy security is inextricably linked to peace, regional stability, and respect for national sovereignty, strongly condemning US military interventions and unilateral economic sanctions for destabilizing global energy markets.

Addressing the 28th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Moscow, Hamid Bovard emphasized that the recent US-Israeli war against Iran has once again proven that energy security is not merely an economic or technical issue.

Bovard opened his remarks by honoring the martyrs of the recent US-Israeli aggression against Iran, paying special tribute to the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as well as innocent civilians, including the children of the Minab school and athletes of the Lamerd sports club.

He warned that such acts of aggression have consequences that extend far beyond regional borders, threatening global energy supply and economic development.

"US military interventions in various regions, including the Persian Gulf, and unilateral economic sanctions not only target the legitimate rights and interests of the Iranian nation but also negatively impact the climate of trust, investment security, and the predictability of global energy markets," Bovard stated.

Highlighting the GECF's 25th anniversary, the Acting Oil Minister called for a unified front against unbalanced climate regulations, specifically criticizing mechanisms like the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which threaten to impose unfair restrictions on energy trade and investment.

Bovard proposed an ambitious new roadmap for the GECF secretariat to increase the share of natural gas in the global energy mix to an unprecedented 30 percent.

According to the forum's global gas outlook, worldwide demand for natural gas is projected to surge by 31 percent to over 5,400 billion cubic meters (bcm) by 2055, raising its share in the global energy basket from 23 to 26 percent.

Iran to push for unified global gas market at GECF summit: Acting oil minister

Acting Oil Minister says Tehran will advocate for protecting energy infrastructure during conflicts and establishing a common market among gas exporters to counter Western market manipulation.

To meet this future demand, Bovard noted that over $12 trillion in upstream and midstream investments will be required by 2055.

He stressed the necessity of creating a stable, predictable environment and fostering joint financing mechanisms, technological cooperation, and structured dialogue between producers and consumers.

Showcasing Iran’s remarkable resilience, Bovard highlighted that despite decades of crippling sanctions and the devastating impacts of imposed wars, Iran's domestic reliance has propelled its annual natural gas production to approximately 300 bcm, placing it among the top three global producers.

Today, natural gas accounts for 70 percent of Iran’s energy basket, with an extensive domestic network covering 95 percent of the population.

"Iran, as a founding member of the GECF, is fully prepared to share its vast industrial, engineering, and managerial experiences in developing extensive gas infrastructure through bilateral and multilateral cooperation," Bovard affirmed.

The GECF, an intergovernmental organization comprising 12 full members including Iran, Russia, and Qatar, controls roughly 70 percent of the world's proven gas reserves, 42 percent of global gas exports, and 47 percent of LNG exports.

The ministerial meeting sets the stage for the 8th GECF Heads of State Summit, aiming to forge a new era of strategic convergence and energy security in the face of Western hegemony.

President Masoud Pezeshkian was scheduled to leave Iran for Russia on Monday to address the GECF meeting on Tuesday.