Since the start of the Ukrainian conflict, the Iranian regime has used the crisis to promote its own energy resources as a potential alternative for Europe, after sanctions forced Russian oil and gas off Western markets.

Negotiations between Iran and six world powers to resurrect the 2015 nuclear deal have been ongoing for months with no success. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which is the official name of the agreement, has long been broken by the Iranian regime. Due to the country’s economic crisis and four decades of oppression, theocratic rule in Iran desperately needs to break out of its international isolation. Nonetheless, Iranian officials and state media never miss an opportunity to brag about their “powerful position” in the negotiations, claiming that Western powers, not the regime, require the deal.

However, Tehran’s hook has been clinging to chaos and trouble since the regime supported the Russian invasion. Russia recently announced that it would sell gas to Iran. “Approximately 75 to 95 billion cubic meters of gas remain in Russia’s hands. Because of the invasion of Ukraine, Europe has sanctioned the gas export giant, which is now forced to sell a large amount of its gas in any way possible or burn and destroy it. Meanwhile, Iran, the world’s second-largest gas reserve owner, has announced that it is ready to import Russian gas!” On August 20, the state-run Aftab News published a report.

With 33.4 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, Iran may be the best alternative to Russian gas, but only if Tehran can exploit and export its gas resources. Because of the regime’s decades of incompetence and negligence, Iran can barely produce enough gas to meet its own domestic needs of 800 million cubic meters, let alone export gas to Western countries.

“Global developments and the energy crisis in the U.S. and Europe indicate Iran is in no hurry to revive the JCPOA. Those who need an agreement the most are the Western parties,” Keyhan daily boasted on August 26, considered Iran’s supreme leader mouthpiece.

The gas extraction infrastructure is severely damaged, and increasing the rate of gas production will require billions of dollars in investments and years of labor. More sanctions have been imposed as a result of the Iranian regime’s destructive policies and support for terrorism, leaving no room for foreign investment.

In other words, Iranians bear the brunt of the regime’s bad policies. Warmongering by the ayatollahs exacerbates Iran’s economic problems; shipping gas to other countries leaves people defenseless in the winter. All of this raises the question of how long the Iranian regime can continue with its destructive policies while also exploiting the “global energy crisis” to extract new concessions from JCPOA signatories.

Nobody should be fooled by these phony displays of power. The Iranian regime is dealing with a volatile society that is on the verge of exploding due to the economic crisis and social injustice. The Iranian regime steals every last cent from Iranians and sells their resources because it desperately needs a deal and more money to finance its nefarious activities. It is a hollow gesture to implicitly offer to export fuel to the West.

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTub