Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT454
2008-04-11 07:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: IRANIAN AMBASSADOR ALLEGES U.S.
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000454
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PREL EPET IR RS TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: IRANIAN AMBASSADOR ALLEGES U.S.
COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA ON NATURAL GAS
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000454
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PREL EPET IR RS TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: IRANIAN AMBASSADOR ALLEGES U.S.
COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA ON NATURAL GAS
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(D)
1. (C) During an April 10 reception hosted by the Baku-based
Ambassador of Switzerland, Alain Guidetti, who had just
presented his credentials to the Government of Turkmenistan,
Charge found himself in a group conversation with the
Ambassadors of Georgia, the United Kingdom, Tajikistan, and
Iran. The UK ambassador asked the Iranian ambassador if
there were any truth in the current press reports that
Turkmenistan might soon resume its natural gas deliveries to
Iran. Ambassador Mohammad Reza Forghani,whom the Charge
generally knows from when they both previously served in
Dushanbe, said, "It's near, but it probably all depends on
the United States." He elaborated that the price of the
natural gas that Iran will pay to Turkmenistan is agreed, but
the volume is still being negotiated, because Iran insists on
14 bcm/y (instead of the previous 8 bcm/y) and, he alleged,
the United States opposes this.
2. (C) Charge noted for the group that in every meeting with
senior Government of Turkmenistan officials during his
current tenure in Ashgabat the issue of the Turkmenistan-Iran
gas dispute has never been discussed in any substantive way.
The Iranian ambassador countered, "But you told them to raise
the price of their gas across the board to harm us." Charge
answered, "We have always told the Turkmen that it is in
their national interest for their independence, sovereignty,
and prosperity to seek the best possible price for their
hydrocarbon resources, especially to ensure that Russia's
monopolist Gazprom not continue to take advantage of them as
a colonial outpost supplier of raw resources."
3. (C) Ambassador Forghani persisted, "But you colluded with
Russia against our interests." He added, "The best solution
for Europe is to get Turkmen gas via Iran to Turkey." Charge
conceded, "In the best of all possible worlds that might
theoretically make geographic and economic sense. But,
unfortunately, Iran has not yet complied with UN Security
Council resolutions, and we cannot consider that option."
4. (C) The Iranian ambassador said, "When Turkmenistan
guarantees us 14 bcm/y, we'll have a deal -- but everyone
knows they don't currently have enough gas available to make
that promise." The Georgian ambassador asked, "So what is
your option?" The Iranian ambassador said, enigmatically,
"We'll soon have an agreement."
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PREL EPET IR RS TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: IRANIAN AMBASSADOR ALLEGES U.S.
COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA ON NATURAL GAS
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(D)
1. (C) During an April 10 reception hosted by the Baku-based
Ambassador of Switzerland, Alain Guidetti, who had just
presented his credentials to the Government of Turkmenistan,
Charge found himself in a group conversation with the
Ambassadors of Georgia, the United Kingdom, Tajikistan, and
Iran. The UK ambassador asked the Iranian ambassador if
there were any truth in the current press reports that
Turkmenistan might soon resume its natural gas deliveries to
Iran. Ambassador Mohammad Reza Forghani,whom the Charge
generally knows from when they both previously served in
Dushanbe, said, "It's near, but it probably all depends on
the United States." He elaborated that the price of the
natural gas that Iran will pay to Turkmenistan is agreed, but
the volume is still being negotiated, because Iran insists on
14 bcm/y (instead of the previous 8 bcm/y) and, he alleged,
the United States opposes this.
2. (C) Charge noted for the group that in every meeting with
senior Government of Turkmenistan officials during his
current tenure in Ashgabat the issue of the Turkmenistan-Iran
gas dispute has never been discussed in any substantive way.
The Iranian ambassador countered, "But you told them to raise
the price of their gas across the board to harm us." Charge
answered, "We have always told the Turkmen that it is in
their national interest for their independence, sovereignty,
and prosperity to seek the best possible price for their
hydrocarbon resources, especially to ensure that Russia's
monopolist Gazprom not continue to take advantage of them as
a colonial outpost supplier of raw resources."
3. (C) Ambassador Forghani persisted, "But you colluded with
Russia against our interests." He added, "The best solution
for Europe is to get Turkmen gas via Iran to Turkey." Charge
conceded, "In the best of all possible worlds that might
theoretically make geographic and economic sense. But,
unfortunately, Iran has not yet complied with UN Security
Council resolutions, and we cannot consider that option."
4. (C) The Iranian ambassador said, "When Turkmenistan
guarantees us 14 bcm/y, we'll have a deal -- but everyone
knows they don't currently have enough gas available to make
that promise." The Georgian ambassador asked, "So what is
your option?" The Iranian ambassador said, enigmatically,
"We'll soon have an agreement."
HOAGLAND