چکیده:
The geopolitical location of the Islamic Republic of Iran has made it a potential passage for transit of oil, natural gas, commercial products and passengers. This potential, however, has not been fulfilled due to U.S. policy of marginalizing Iran. With the resolution of the Iranian nuclear dispute, as a turning point in Iran’s relations with the outer world, the question is “what are the implications of reduction of security considerations in Iran-EU relations and strengthening the Iranian development-oriented foreign policy for the two challenging initiatives of the Southern Gas Corridor and TRACECA?” In response we argue that: in medium term, the most important impediment to Iran’s participation in the Southern Gas Corridor that is political will be removed but Iranian engagement in EU’s TRACECA corridor will remain unchanged because of major infrastructural shortcomings. Iran can have an active participation in the Southern Gas Corridor.
خلاصه ماشینی:
"With the resolution of the Iranian nuclear dispute, as a turning point in Iran’s relations with the outer world, the question is "what are the implications of reduction of security considerations in Iran-EU relations and strengthening the Iranian development-oriented foreign policy for the two challenging initiatives of the Southern Gas Corridor and TRACECA?" In response we argue that: in medium term, the most important impediment to Iran’s participation in the Southern Gas Corridor that is political will be removed but Iranian engagement in EU’s TRACECA corridor will remain unchanged because of major infrastructural shortcomings.
Although the sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union led to termination of Nubocco and Iranian participation in the Southern Gas Corridor, Lisa Givert the speaker of the trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (the Turkish part of Nubocco and TAP) insisted that the doors for entrance and 11 participation in the plan is open to new stakeholders including Iran .
The consequent establishment of commercial and political ties with the European Union raises the question over the fate of the challenging inter-state plans like the Southern Gas Corridor that transfer energy to Europe and what developments await TRACECA and what would be its implications for Iran.
However, there are other matters that sustain Iranian chance to take part in the Southern Gas Corridor; namely removal of legal restrictions for Iran’s participation (sanctions removal); Iraqi instabilities and its long standing consequences; limitations to the quantity of gas that the Shah Deniz field can provide; the possibility for increase in the gas transfer capacity of the trans Adriatic (TAP) pipeline; tensions in Russia–West relations and Europe’s more decisive bid to diversify its energy resources; Europe’s further need to gas and the prospects for revival of the Nubocco pipeline in long term."