A Trade Union Official: Russia 'Will Not Allow' Iran to Extract Gas from the 'Sardar Jangal' Field

The head of Iran's CNG Association has cited Russia's obstruction of Iran's gas extraction from the Sardar Jangal field as one of the factors creating a 'mismatch in gas production and consumption' in the country. Ardshir Dadras criticized the 'mismanagement and lack of foresight' of government officials on Tuesday, January 2, and called Iran the largest gas subsidy provider in the world, stating: 'Russia does not allow Iran to extract gas from the eight wells of the Sardar Jangal gas field in the Caspian Sea.' According to the Economy Online website, Ardshir Dadras has identified insufficient investment and the development of gas extraction as the groundwork for a 'critical mismatch' in this sector over the next decade, declaring that overcoming this crisis requires an investment of $60 billion. This trade union official previously announced that based on an agreement between Iran and Russia, as long as Iran's gas production is positive relative to its domestic consumption, the Islamic Republic does not have the right to extract from the gas wells of the 'Sardar Jangal' field in the Caspian Sea. According to the head of the CNG Association, extracting gas from the Caspian Sea would allow Iran to surpass Russia in terms of the largest gas reserves in the world and become the largest holder of gas reserves globally. While Iran is considered to have the second-largest gas reserves in the world, the shortage of natural gas has led to the burning of mazut in Iranian power plants and increased air pollution in various cities across the country. Daryoush Golalizadeh, head of the National Air and Climate Change Center of the Environmental Protection Organization, announced that over 26,000 people have died in 33 cities due to air pollution since 2022. Additionally, the head of the Energy Commission of the Chamber of Commerce, Arash Najafi, had previously warned of a gas mismatch of 500 million cubic meters in the country over the next two decades, stating that if the current method continues, 'we will face structural and security challenges.' Nevertheless, some political observers believe that the Iranian regime is attempting to consolidate its power by sacrificing the national interests of the country. Previously, Mohsen Sazgara, a political analyst residing in the United States, mentioned that the policy of the Supreme Leader's office continues the servitude to Russia while ignoring the national interests of Iran and Iranians.