On April 25th local time, officials from Russia and Iran held the 18th meeting of the inter - governmental economic and trade cooperation committee in Moscow, discussing multiple issues including the implementation of projects in the energy field.
It was stated that a project to transport Russian natural gas to Iran via Azerbaijan is about to start, with an annual transport volume of 1.8 billion cubic meters. After the final price is agreed upon, gas supply can begin within the year.
In addition, the two sides discussed a number of issues, such as extending the operation period of Russian companies in Iranian oil and gas fields, the transit routes of Russian oil products, simplifying mutual trade settlements, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and the construction of new nuclear power plant units.
Analysis shows that Iran and Russia have been seeking to establish a deeper partnership in the energy field for many years and have made specific progress in relevant areas.
Firstly, there has been progress in the mechanism. The Russia - Iran Energy Committee has held 18 meetings, and its operation has become more standardized and regular. Moreover, a long - term strategic partnership treaty between Russia and Iran has been recently signed, with a considerable part discussing energy cooperation.
Secondly, Russia has made some specific commitments to bilateral energy cooperation. The most prominent manifestation is that some major Russian oil companies have promised to invest a certain amount in Iran's energy sector, especially the oil and gas industry.
Objectively speaking, energy cooperation between Russia and Iran also faces limitations. For example, both countries are under severe US sanctions, making it difficult to initiate substantial international cooperation. Generally, the energy cooperation between the two countries is in a state of progress but still restricted.
It is believed that the energy cooperation between Russia and Iran helps to consolidate the strategic mutual trust between the two sides and also expands a new path for them to resist US unilateral bullying.
The energy cooperation between Russia and Iran is not only for economic considerations but also for energy security. In particular, the long - term strategic cooperation treaty signed between them stipulates that Russia is willing to supply natural gas to Iran when needed, which is actually a commitment to Iran's energy security and reflects the depth of strategic mutual trust between the two countries.
Economically, the two countries are exploring settling energy transactions in their local currencies, bypassing the US dollar, which is of great significance in countering sanctions. There is also cooperation in energy infrastructure between the two countries, including the construction of energy channels, which avoids the risks of sea and air transportation as these are important entry points for US sanctions.
