Russia's move to provide a 2.5-billion-euro loan to Iran indicates that even anti-Russian sanctions cannot stop Moscow from expanding its economic ties with its southern partner, Omid Shokri Kalehsar, a US-based Iranian energy expert, told Sputnik.

In an interview with�Sputnik, Omid Shokri Kalehsar, a US-based Iranian energy expert, heaped praise on�Russia for�providing Iran with�a 2.5-billion-euro loan, which he said reflects Moscow's drive to�bolster economic relations with Tehran in�the face of�anti-Russian sanctions.

The interview came a few days after�Russia's Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Storchak said that Moscow is ready to�loan Tehran up�to 2.5 billion euros for�infrastructure projects.

Kalehsar recalled that Moscow is currently constructing a bridge to�link the Crimean Peninsula with�mainland Russia, a 4.5-billion-dollar project which is being implemented amid�sanctions that the EU, the US and other countries slapped on�Russia.

"But in�spite of�this, Russia is ready to�take the most difficult and important decisions, including on�the issue of�granting a hefty loan to�Iran. In any case, everything is based on�a mutually beneficial partnership with�both parties due to�get their desired benefits," Kalehsar said.

He added that the current 2.5-billion-euro loan is a sign that Russia and Iran intend to�develop their economic ties and elevate them to�a new level.

"Many Russian energy giants, such as�Lukoil, Gazprom and Rosatom are returning to�the Iranian market to�continue bilateral cooperation in�the energy sector. Right now, the sides are in�the process of�negotiating a spate of�new major contracts," he said.

Kalehsar also pointed to�the fact that even international sanctions against�Tehran failed to�keep Russia and Iran from�developing a full-blown economic partnership.

Major Russian companies that were engaged in�the implementation of�large-scale projects in�Iran's energy sector at�the time did their best to�deliver on�their promises and fulfill the infrastructure-related part of�the projects, according to�Kalehsar.

Since 2014, the European Union, the United States and their allies have imposed several rounds of�sanctions against�Russia, and accuse the Kremlin of�interfering in�the Ukrainian conflict�� a claim that Moscow has repeatedly denied.

On June 28-29, the EU leaders are due to�decide on�the further prolongation of�sanctions at�a summit in�Brussels.

By Sputnik News