Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 8
By Temkin Jafarov - Trend:
Russia has never been a reliable partner, First Secretary of Energy Commission of the Iranian parliament Amir-Abbas Soltani said in an exclusive interview with Trend Oct. 8.
"During construction of nuclear power plant in Bushehr, Iran, Tehran has witnessed Russia's position on Iran," said Soltani.
The station was planned to be commissioned in autumn 2007, but due to problems with financing the project and other difficulties, including political ones, the pre-launch period was postponed until September 2009. In 2012, the plant reached 100 percent capacity, but then was stopped twice for repairs.
He said that Russia will act solely proceeding from its interests in the future.
"When the sanctions were imposed against Iran on the sale of oil, Russia could have reduced its oil exports to support Tehran," he said. "But Moscow did not do this and dealt a severe blow to the Iranian economy."
He said that after the sanctions are fully lifted, Iran would increase sale and production of oil and gas to take its rightful place on the global oil and gas market.
"Even if it harms the interests of the Russian Federation, Iran will act solely in its own economic and political interests," he said.
He said that one must not forget about common interests with Russia.
The US and the EU countries imposed an embargo on the EU countries' imports of Iranian oil and gas in 2012 to put political pressure on Iran. This had a positive impact on export volumes of Russian gas and oil.
Iran and "Six" international negotiators reached a historic agreement on the settlement of long-term problem of the Iranian atom in mid-July. In case of fulfilling this agreement, the international sanctions will be lifted from Iran. This will allow foreign investors to cooperate with the country.
Edited by CN
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