Baqeri: Russia-Iran gas transit and North-South corridor are strategic projects aimed at pressuring the U.S.

What happened: Mohammad Baqeri, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said that plans to import Russian gas into Iran and to develop a North–South transit corridor are strategic projects that will eliminate some powers’ — including the United States’ — ability to pressure the Islamic Republic of Iran. (Source: Shargh newspaper)

Shared facts: Baqeri described the two projects as economic capacities available to Iran that can be used for national and regional development and for enhancing security. (Sources: Shargh newspaper and Entekhab (Telegram))

Different reports/attribution: Baqeri said cooperation between Iran and Russia will remove U.S. hopes of pressuring Iran. A separate attribution to the deputy of Major General Rahsai asserted that the “transfer of Russian gas to Iran” and the “North–South corridor” are two strategic projects that will eliminate attempts to pressure the Islamic Republic; he added that these projects would make other countries seriously dependent on Iran. (Source: Fars (Telegram))

Unverified/partial repetition: Entekhab (Telegram) repeated the claim that the Islamic Republic’s prospects for being pressured would be removed.