25 June 2011
Iranian and Russian officials held a meeting on the sidelines of the 11th International Oil and Gas exhibition in Moscow to discuss ways to expand energy cooperation.
In the meeting, the visiting Iranian delegation, comprising of lawmakers and energy officials, and Russian authorities underlined the need for expanding joint investment and cooperation in the oil and gas sectors in both countries, IRIB reported.
"Russian companies are eager to invest in Iran's oil and gas projects and that Russia will be a reliable partner for Iran in the oil and gas sectors," said Talyat Aliev, deputy director of International Department of Russia's Energy Ministry.
He noted that the two countries are cooperating within the framework of Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
The Russian officials also criticized the US-led unilateral sanctions imposed on Iran over its civilian nuclear activities.
Western powers--led by the United States--have been attempting to cripple Iran's energy sector in a bid to dissuade it from conducting its peaceful nuclear program.
On June 9, 2010, the UN Security Council approved a US-engineered resolution imposing a fourth round of sanctions on Iran, particularly targeting its energy and financial sectors over unverified allegations that the country is pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons program.
Shortly after the UN sanctions, the US imposed fresh unilateral sanctions against Iran's financial and energy sectors, and then pressured the EU, Japan, Canada, and Australia to impose similar sanctions on Tehran.
"We are ready to expand our cooperation in Iran's oil and gas fields by removing the obstacles," Aliev said.
Iranian lawmaker, Mohammad Karim Shahrzad also said that the Moscow exhibition 'provides a good opportunity' for developing Iran-Russia energy cooperation.
More than thousand companies from Russia and 36 other countries are taking part in the 11th International Oil and Gas Exhibition in Moscow which opened on Tuesday.
Iran, which is the world's fourth largest oil producer, holds the world's second largest natural gas reserves after Russia.
Iranian and Russian officials held a meeting on the sidelines of the 11th International Oil and Gas exhibition in Moscow to discuss ways to expand energy cooperation.
In the meeting, the visiting Iranian delegation, comprising of lawmakers and energy officials, and Russian authorities underlined the need for expanding joint investment and cooperation in the oil and gas sectors in both countries, IRIB reported.
"Russian companies are eager to invest in Iran's oil and gas projects and that Russia will be a reliable partner for Iran in the oil and gas sectors," said Talyat Aliev, deputy director of International Department of Russia's Energy Ministry.
He noted that the two countries are cooperating within the framework of Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
The Russian officials also criticized the US-led unilateral sanctions imposed on Iran over its civilian nuclear activities.
Western powers--led by the United States--have been attempting to cripple Iran's energy sector in a bid to dissuade it from conducting its peaceful nuclear program.
On June 9, 2010, the UN Security Council approved a US-engineered resolution imposing a fourth round of sanctions on Iran, particularly targeting its energy and financial sectors over unverified allegations that the country is pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons program.
Shortly after the UN sanctions, the US imposed fresh unilateral sanctions against Iran's financial and energy sectors, and then pressured the EU, Japan, Canada, and Australia to impose similar sanctions on Tehran.
"We are ready to expand our cooperation in Iran's oil and gas fields by removing the obstacles," Aliev said.
Iranian lawmaker, Mohammad Karim Shahrzad also said that the Moscow exhibition 'provides a good opportunity' for developing Iran-Russia energy cooperation.
More than thousand companies from Russia and 36 other countries are taking part in the 11th International Oil and Gas Exhibition in Moscow which opened on Tuesday.
Iran, which is the world's fourth largest oil producer, holds the world's second largest natural gas reserves after Russia.
© Iran Daily 2011
