Iran signs International Energy Charter declaration

From left: Secretary General of the Energy Charter Secretariat Urban Rusnák, Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida

The Islamic Republic of Iran has joined the International Energy Charter after signing IEC declaration in the Japanese Capital, Tokyo.

The International Energy Charter is a political declaration aimed at boosting global energy security and promoting access to modern energy services.

Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian signed the declaration during a special ceremony attended by the Secretary General of the Energy Charter Secretariat Urban Rusnák and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Friday.

Iran is viewed as a resource-rich country. It holds the fourth largest proven crude oil reserves and the second largest natural gas reserves in the world.

Iraq and Guatemala, as well as three international organizations including the East African Community, G5 Sahel and the Economic Community of Central African States also signed the International Energy Charter declaration, bringing the overall number of IEC signatories to 80.

The signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the 27th Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference which kicked off in Tokyo on Friday.

The two-day event is aimed at reviewing the latest global challenges facing energy sector.

The Energy Charter Conference was established by the 1994 Energy Charter Treaty as part of efforts to promote long-term energy cooperation at regional and global levels.