Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will travel to Moscow on Monday to address the eighth summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), where he is also scheduled to meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and other participating leaders.

Habibollah Abbasi, director general of the presidential office’s public relations department, announced that Pezeshkian would depart for the Russian capital on Monday evening, with his address to the summit scheduled for Tuesday.

On the sidelines of the summit, Pezeshkian and Putin will discuss ways to expand political and economic cooperation and review progress in implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Iran and Russia.

The two presidents are also expected to exchange views on the latest bilateral developments and key regional and international issues.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei also described the visit as “significant” both for consultations among major global energy suppliers, particularly gas producers, and for bilateral meetings with the leaders of participating countries.

“Iran-Russia cooperation in the energy sector has a long history,” Baghaei said.

He added that officials from Iran’s Oil Ministry would also participate in the meetings, saying the necessary information would be provided during and after the visit.

Iran, Russia and the GECF battle against US energy colonialism

Major gas producers gather in Moscow on Tuesday, where Russia and Iran seek to mobilize members of the GECF to confront US energy colonialism, strengthen energy sovereignty and protect their collective interests amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

The GECF, an intergovernmental organization comprising 12 major gas-producing nations—including Iran, Russia, and Qatar—was originally proposed in Tehran in 2001 and officially established in 2008.

The forum serves as a critical platform for coordinating policies, ensuring energy security, and shielding gas exporters from unilateral coercive measures and Western market volatility.

Iran’s Acting Oil Minister said on Sunday that Tehran will advocate for the creation of a common gas market and the protection of energy infrastructure against wartime sabotage in the upcoming summit.

Hamid Bovard, speaking before his departure for the Russian capital, said that Iran is actively pursuing strategic gas consultations with GECF members in Moscow.

He emphasized that the joint development of energy fields and the expansion of gas swap agreements form the core of Tehran’s energy cooperation with Russia.

“We will announce our stances at this summit and hold bilateral meetings with relevant ministers,” Bovard said ahead of the event.