Russian Ambassador to Iran Levan Dzhagaryan[/caption]The lifting of anti-Iran sanctions can be mutually benefitial for trade relations between Moscow and Tehran, Russian Ambassador to Iran noted Thursday.
MOSCOW, January 22 (Sputnik) The lifting ofunilateral sanctions againstIran bythe European Union and the United States should lead toa growth intrade betweenMoscow and Tehran, Russian Ambassador toIran Levan Dzhagaryan said Thursday.
If these limitations [against Iran] are lifted, then we expect a return tolevels equal toor surpassing the previous figures, Dzhagaryan told RIA Novosti inan interview.
The unilateral sanctions bythe EU and the United States againstthe financial and oil and gas sectors ofIrans economy has had an extremely negative effect onthe volume oftrade betweenRussia and Iran because ofworsening conditions inmutual accounting, the ambassador said.
Dzhagaryan added that a key potential inthe mutual relations betweenthe two countries lies inregional cooperation.The diplomat noted that Moscow never stopped cooperating withTehran ininitiatives relating toenergy, industry, transport, agriculture and advanced technologies. Dzhagaryan added that forRussia cooperation withIran will remain priority inthe future.
Tehran has been subject tosanctions imposed bythe UN Security Council, the United States and the European Union, aswell asseveral countries overallegations that Iran is trying toproduce nuclear weapons. Iranian authorities have repeatedly denied these claims, stating that its nuclear activities are peaceful innature.
The European Union, forinstance, imposed an embargo onIranian oil imports. The United States banned foreign companies frominvesting more than $20 million intothe development ofpetroleum resources inIran. Companies violating the ban will also be subject toUS sanctions. Iranian organizations and banks linked tothe nuclear or arms industries were also hit byWestern restrictions.
Due tointernational sanctions, Russia severely cut back exports ofmilitary goods and services toTehran. According tothe Center forAnalysis ofWorld Arms Trade (CAWAT), overthe pastseveral years, Russia lost outon $13 billion inmilitary sales toIran.
By Sputnik News
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