Tehran, Moscow Seek Deeper Strategic Energy Cooperation

The Iran-Russia Joint Energy Working Group met under the leadership of Iran’s deputy oil minister for international affairs and commerce and Russia’s deputy energy minister, stressing the need to operationalize strategic memorandums of understanding between the two countries.

The online meeting was held December 24 and chaired by Ali-Mohammad Mousavi, Iran’s deputy oil minister for international affairs and commerce, and Roman Marshavin, Russia’s deputy energy minister. Participants reviewed the latest status of bilateral energy cooperation.

Attendees included Mostafa Barzegar, director general for Europe, the Americas and the Commonwealth of Independent States at Iran’s Oil Ministry; representatives from Iran’s Energy Ministry and the Oil Ministry’s engineering department; and 32 Russian representatives, including senior managers and experts from major energy companies.

Talks focused on reviewing, consolidating and following up on existing memorandums of understanding within the framework of the Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, as well as assessing progress across various energy sectors.

The sides discussed technical, operational and scheduling aspects of joint projects and emphasized the need for closer coordination among relevant agencies and companies to speed implementation of agreements. Potential obstacles to executing the memorandums and ways to address them within bilateral cooperation were also examined.

The meeting was held as part of ongoing efforts to deepen Tehran-Moscow strategic cooperation in the energy sector and to implement previously signed agreements and cooperation documents. At the close of the session, both sides thanked the commission’s secretariat and underscored the importance of finalizing the initial draft of the 19th commission memorandum of understanding and ensuring its successful convening in Tehran. - Shana