Bijan Zangeneh had a meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in Moscow on Monday in which he pointed out Russia's important and positive role in the coalition of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC oil producers, a group called OPEC+, IRNA reported.

During the meeting, Mr. Zangeneh said: “Cooperation between the two countries in the field of energy is expanding day by day.”

He added: "In the current situation, given the imposition of oppressive US sanctions on Iran and Russia, strengthening the convergence and cooperation of the two countries is very important and effective."

Noting that Iran and Russia have worked closely in the field of oil and energy in recent years, he said: "We continue to seek the deepening of this cooperation in order to neutralize the consequences of sanctions."

Zangeneh said that many changes have taken place in the international arena, adding: "Under any circumstances, Iran-Russia relations will not change and Tehran is determined to strengthen relations with Moscow."

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction with the growing relations between Tehran and Moscow, and said: "Russia certainly wants more convergence with Iran in all fields, especially in the field of oil and energy."

Novak added that in recent years, consultations between OPEC members and the OPEC+ coalition have been effective, and Russia has sought to play a constructive role.

"Iran and Russia have always had close and growing cooperation in the field of oil and energy, and this cooperation will continue," he said.

During the meeting, Iran and Russia outlined the roadmap for the continuation and development of cooperation between the two countries, regardless of international political developments, and stressed the need to pursue and implement agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) in the field of energy in the form of a joint committee.