Armenia Seeks Boost in Iranian Gas Imports Amid Russian Price Threats

Armenia is seeking to boost gas imports from Iran following Russia's threats to hike its natural gas price for the country. Armenian Infrastructures Minister Davit Khudatian met with senior Iranian officials in Tehran over the weekend to discuss increasing Iranian gas supplies to Armenia.

The Russian gas price for Armenia is set well below international market-based levels, but President Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders warned of an end to that discount in May as Moscow stepped up economic pressure on Yerevan over its pro-Western foreign policy.

Russian State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin claimed that Russia supplies gas to Armenia at a quarter of the price it is sold for in Europe, but receives little in return from the Armenian government. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian dismissed the Russian threats, stating that Armenia can afford a higher gas price due to its growing commercial ties with neighboring Turkey and Azerbaijan.