Sanctioned by West, Russia Eyes Food, Oil Imports from Iran

Head of Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce Asadollah Asgaroladi told the Tasnim News Agency that trade delegations from the two countries are scheduled to hold meetings in Tehran on September 8 and 9.

He said Iran is expected to increase the export of foodstuff to Russia in the wake of Western sanctions imposed on that country.

A crisis in Ukraine has plunged Russia-West relations to their lowest level since the Cold War ended in 1991.

The West accuses Russia of arming separatist rebels in Ukraine, an allegation Moscow denies.

Western governments have imposed sanctions on Moscow, including on its financial and energy sectors, and Russia has already hit back by stopping imports of many food products.

Elsewhere in his comments, Asgaroladi said a host of Iranian merchants and exporters are invited to attend the forthcoming meetings in order to get the best results.

Asked about the possibility of establishment of Iranian food factories in Russia instead of direct exports, the official said, “As part of the future plans of Iran-Russia Joint Chamber, it is expected that by the administration’s provision of budget and investment, trade centers would be founded in those Russian cities that more demand Iranian products, such as Moscow, Astrakhan, Saint Petersburg and etc.”

Earlier in May, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov voiced his country's willingness to learn from Iran's experience in dealing with Western sanctions against Moscow over its alleged involvement in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

“It is very unfortunate that the US and the European Union are continuing their very illegitimate policy on sanctioning countries around. And Russia, since it also became subject of these illegitimate sanctions, will definitely benefit from the Iranian experience. So we will learn from your experience in this regard,” Ryabkov told Tasnim in Vienna at the time.