Tehran, Iran, September 13
By Milad Fashtami - Trend:
Iran's Agricultural Jihad Ministry announced that it is studying Russia's request to import Iranian agricultural products.
The Russians have reportedly requested for exporting 60 items from Iran, Iran's ISNA News Agency reported on September 13.
The request follows Russia's decision to ban the import of the most agricultural from many countries, including the European Union countries, the United States, and Canada.
Russia put the ban in retaliation to the European Union and the United States' economic penalties on Moscow, for its alleged backing of pro-Moscow separatists fighting Ukrainian government forces in eastern regions.
During the Russian delegation's visit to Tehran previous week, the country officially requested Tehran to increase its agricultural exports to Moscow in order to meet the country's domestic demands.
Iran is currently considering the request, since some of the listed items such as bananas, pineapples, and coffee are not being produced in Iran.
Moreover, Iran's water crisis is also another obstacle in increasing agricultural products' output.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on September 10 that Moscow is willing to import necessary goods from Iran, while exporting Tehran's needed items to the county.
Iran and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on September 9.
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak signed the document at the end of the 11th meeting of Iran-Russia Joint Cooperation Commission.
The documents include bilateral cooperation in different fields such as industrial, mineral, trade, agricultural, tourism, technology, border issues, and energy.
The two sides also agreed to do their bank transactions by national currencies.
"Iran and Russia's trade value currently stands at $1.5 billion, but the figure will rise by ten times in the next two year," Zanganeh said.
Novak previously said that the U.S.-generated sanctions will not affect the two countries bilateral relations.
Russian energy minister said on September 10 that Moscow is ready to carry out 70 billion euros worth of projects in Iran.
"Russia can help Iran construct new railroads," he said expressing his country's willingness to take part in electrification project of the railroads, Iran's TASNIM News Agency reported on September 10.
"Investing in Iran's oil and gas sector is interesting for Russian companies," Novak said.
He went on to add that the two countries' presidents will hold a meeting to discuss the issues of mutual interest in the near future.
"We seek to open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation," he concluded.
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said on September 6 that Iran sees no limits to expand economic ties with Russia.
"The two sides will explore ways to expand economic ties, particularly in agriculture, transportation, mining, energy, and technology transfer," the Shana news agency quoted Zanganeh as saying.
Russia and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on Aug.5 for a period of five years, signaling a sharp intensification in economic cooperation between the two countries. The document lays the foundation for a comprehensive multi-billion dollar deal for trade in the oil sector between the two nations.
Russian Energy Ministry said that the memorandum provides for the expansion of trade and economic cooperation in the fields of construction and reconstruction of power generating capacity, the development of power grid infrastructure, the oil and gas sector, as well as the supply of machinery, equipment and consumer goods.