Javad Owji told a joint press conference with Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, that before the start of the 16th Joint Economic Commission of Iran and Russia, the working groups of the two countries in different areas of the meetings held good and constructive meetings, adding: “Fortunately, in the last three months, these meetings were held regularly in Iran and Russia so that we can examine various aspects of increasing the level of cooperation between the two countries.”

Emphasizing that today's good agreements in the fields of energy, transportation, health, agriculture, etc. between Iran and Russia are the result of good team work in the working groups formed in both countries, he added: “Iran and Russia have good capacities, especially in the field of hydrocarbon resources in the region. The oil and gas resources of the two countries are very influential in the world today, and fortunately, the two countries have made good and aligned decisions in the coalition of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies known as OPEC+.”

The Iranian petroleum minister pointed to the five meetings between the presidents of Iran and Russia in 2022, and stated: “Relations between the two countries have never been so close to each other, so this golden opportunity should be used to the fullest.”

Pointing out that Iran already has more than 4 billion dollars in contracts with Russian majors for the development of oil and gas fields, Owji added: “Parallel with these contracts, there are more than $40 billion of memorandum of understanding with major Russian companies in various fields such as construction of gas export pipelines to neighboring countries, swaps of oil, gas, oil products and export of petrochemicals. In this regard, petrochemical products and catalysts were exported to Russia last month.”

He emphasized on the implementation of the remaining great works for the development of relations between Iran and Russia, and stated: “Efforts are being made to resolve the challenges and problems in the joint economic commission of the two countries. There is now a strong will in the public and private sectors of both countries to develop relations and neutralize the sanctions.”