Robert Amsterdam

Today the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made direct references to the possibility of setting up an OPEC-like natural gas cartel with Russia - a topic which previously had been dismissed as an undesirable and unfeasible project by the Russians. While Khamenei's comments doubtlessly cast a shadow on the Gazprom PR extravaganza at Davos last week, the explicit interest Russia and Iran have in developing closer ties should be of great concern for policymakers in the West.

“The two countries through mutual cooperation can establish an organization of gas exporting countries like OPEC.” (MOSNEWS)

The Iranian suggestion of a gas OPEC has been warmly received by Gennady Seleznev, the former speaker of the Duma. "It is an interesting idea to set up an organization with participation of Iran, Russia, Algeria, Qatar and other major producers of natural gas," he said.