MOSCOW- Russian oil companies may continue working in Iraq despite continued tension there, the TASS news agency cited Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak as saying on Tuesday.

"As of today, our companies continue working there and we believe that they may continue implementing their projects there," he was quoted as saying.

(Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; editing by Vladimir Soldatkin) ((dmitry.solovyov@thomsonreuters.com;))