Local Editor
Irna – Following the intensification of West’s sanctions against Russia and withdrawal of the Russian companies from European oil projects, they have decided to open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation with Iran by financing its oil and gas projects.
Given the progressing trend of Iran’s nuclear talks with the Western states and the increasing possibility of lifting trade sanctions against the country in a near future, Iran’s Oil Ministry began negotiations with some of the foreign companies that possess technological and financial potentials to resume their activities in the Iranian market.
However, since the presence of a number of the leading European companies in the Iranian oil sector has become conditional (in terms of transfer of technology and the volume of their trade with Iran), authorities of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) sought more reliable sources and began negotiations with a number of the Russian and Chinese companies.
Reports said that the talks with Russian and Chinese companies were constructive leading even to the presence of some Russian companies in Iran’s oil and gas sectors.
Advisor of the managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Asghar Soheilipour said that Russian companies are mostly willing to cooperate with Iran in the field of financing the country’s oil and gas projects and have even offered to start their cooperation originally with providing two billion dollars with no formalities.
Soheilipour had earlier announced that a letter of understanding was signed with a Russian company for building a 300-km-long gas pipeline from the city of Iranshahr in southeastern Iran (Sistan and Bluchestan province) to Chabahar Free Trade Zone which locates in the coasts of the Gulf of Oman.
The project is to be accomplished in two years, said the official.
Iran-Russia cooperation in oil sector has recently witnessed a momentum leading to signing of a 70-billion-euro agreement by the two capitals for joint ventures.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has said a grave development would be made in the field of Iran’s oil and gas activities when grounds were prepared for Russia’s investment in that field.
Novak stressed that Western sanctions against Russia could not prevent the country from promoting its cooperation with Iran.
Promotion of cooperation between Tehran and Moscow would be beneficial for both capitals as Iran faces restrictions for trading its oil due to Western sanctions and Moscow is suffering from an economy which is on the verge of a collapse.
