Last week Iran announced that it is close to an agreement according to which Russia will supply it with gas. This news was received with astonishment in Iran and abroad, and more importantly, it also shows insights about the troubles Iran currently has despite the progress in the nuclear talks.
Iran with the largest natural gas deposits in the world is not supposed to need to import gas. But sanctions prevent Iran from exploiting their own potential. Even the Iran Oil Ministry admits Iran suffers from a gas shortage!
If Iran will import gas from Russia, it is an Iranian admission that its own gas will remain in the sea, since Western companies will not approach it even in the coming years for fear of instability.
A western company needs billions in investment and when it comes to Iran it is currently not practical even with a nuclear agreement.