Rustam Zhiganshin made the remarks in an address to the opening ceremony of the first business-to-‎business (B2B) meeting between Iranian and Russian companies on cooperation in oil and gas sectors here ‎in Tehran on Tuesday.‎

He said the B2B meeting is a “big” step toward enhancing bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sectors, ‎adding the value of the trade transactions between Iran and Russia is increasing on a yearly basis. ‎

Zhiganshin stressed that Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who arrived in Tehran earlier in ‎the day, will meet Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji on Tuesday to discuss the development of bilateral ‎relations. ‎

He added the representatives of over 50 small and medium-sized Russian firms have taken part in ‎today’s B2B meeting to discuss with their Iranian counterparts issues pertaining to the oil, gas and ‎petrochemical industries, production of the oil industry equipment, exports of technical and engineering ‎services and technological cooperation. ‎

Novak arrived in Tehran on Tuesday on a ‎two-day visit at the ‎head of a high-ranking delegation for talks with ‎Iranian ‎officials.‎

In addition to the oil minister, he is expected to meet Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and ‎‎Central Bank Governor Mohammad-Reza Farzin. ‎

He will also attend the opening ceremony of the 27th Iran International Oil, Gas, ‎Refining and ‎‎Petrochemical Exhibition (Iran Oil Show 2023), and visit a number ‎of leading Iranian ‎companies.‎

Cooperation in the energy sector will be among the Russian deputy PM’s ‎discussions with Iranian officials.‎