Building bridges — and pipelines — with Tehran should be a strategic priority for the EU By Derek Brower, journalist ONE COUNTRY holds the key in the EU’s battle to secure alternative and secure sources of energy: Iran. With over 28 trillion cubic metres (cm) of natural gas in the ground — around 15% of the known resource in the world — Iran’s reserves are only exceeded by Russia’s 47.65 trillion cm. In theory, Europe is blessed to be within pipeline distance of both countries, as well as the large exporters of natural gas in North Africa. In reality, Iranian is out of reach. Europe’s biggest gas hope?