Cross-Border Gas Pipelines and Energy Security of Islamic Republic Of Iran

Nowadays the security of energy is one of the most important dimensions of national security and focus of attention of all states. Iran for the reason of having rich natural gas resources and special geopolitical location has great potential in international gas trade through pipeline. The purpose of the present paper is to explain the challenges that Iran is facing for providing security of energy through cross border pipelines. The basic point is what are the most important challenges which Iran is facing in natural gas trade through cross border pipelines and what are the solution for managing these challenges? The descriptive-analytical examination of the issue shows that Iran is facing challenges in three sectors. These challenges are the security of supply, demand and transit, but the most important among these three is the security of demand. In the direction of maintaining demand and diversification of it, the suitable solution is the increase in attraction of foreign investment and transfer of technical know-how, readiness to increase supply in emergency situation when the demand suddenly increases and subsiding the international disputes in supply of natural gas.