Tehran, Iran, May 13
By Milad Fashtami - Trend:
Iran's ambassador to Moscow, Mehdi Sanayi, and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak held a meeting in Moscow on May 13.
During the meeting the two sides discussed possible ways to boost the two country's energy relations, Iran's IRNA News Agency reported on May 13.
It was the two officials' third meeting this year.
"It's important for Iran and Russia to increase their economic relations, especially in the energy sector," Sanayi said.
Russian minister also stressed on his country's willingness to expand energy and economy relations with Tehran.
Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Morgulov in April expressed his country's determination to boost economic cooperation with Tehran.
He said Moscow will spare no effort to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all fields, particularly in economic and commercial sectors.
Iran-Russia trade currently totals $5 billion a year, but economists say the two countries can at minimum quadruple the volume of their trade exchanges, Press TV Reported.
Earlier this month, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said the Islamic Republic is determined to raise the volume of its "economic transactions" with Russia under long-term deals.
The Islamic Republic and Russia are also pursuing a possible energy barter deal, which has provoked an angry reaction from some US senators, who threatened to reinstate the anti-Iran sanctions eased under an interim nuclear deal.