Iran, Russia Urge Finalization Of Energy Accords

Tehran, April 8, IRNA - Senior Iranian and Russian officials emphasized the need to finalize the agreements previously reached between Tehran and Moscow in the energy sector. Iranˈs Ambassador to Moscow Mehdi Sanaei met with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak on Monday to discuss economic cooperation between both countries, particularly in the energy sphere, Press TV reported on Tuesday. Both sides called for further enhancement of economic ties, stressing that energy agreements between Iran and Russia must be finalized as soon as possible. During the meeting, Sanaei described the energy sector as the “engine that moves the economic relations of the two countries forward,” adding that if Tehran and Moscow increase their energy exchanges, “other economic agreements will also be implemented.” Nakov, who heads the Russian side of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission, also called on the oil ministries of both countries to fulfill the agreements reached earlier between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Iran-Russia trade currently totals $5b a year, but economists say both countries can at least quadruple the volume of their trade exchanges./end