Russia lines up first Iran barter deal
Russia will begin imports of Iranian dairy, fish and meat products in exchange for grain, a senior Russian official says.
The Sputnik news agency quoted deputy head of Russia’s agriculture watchdog Alexei Alexeyenko as saying that the country was in the process of approving a list of Iranian cheese and meat suppliers.
A Russian agriculture ministry delegation visited Iran recently to discuss trade ties. They visited several dairy and meat production units and an industrial slaughterhouse during their 10-day visit.
“At talks in Tehran, we discussed a possible deal to exchange Russian grain for meat or fish or cheese from Iran. It would be a barter deal,” Sputnik quoted Alexeyenko as saying.
Last month, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Russian and Iranian companies were discussing terms for a barter deal that excluded oil deliveries.
The remarks put an end to months of speculation about a possible oil-for-goods exchange between the two countries which are both under Western sanctions.
Novak clarified that the deal did not envisage any oil supplies to Russia, or Russia shipping Iranian oil cargoes on to other markets.
Iran and Russia have close diplomatic ties but sanctions have prompted the two countries to strengthen their economic and trade relations as well.
On Monday, Sputnik cited Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying that Russia was in favor of promoting Iran’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The organization, led by Russia and China, has granted observer status to Iran but is awaiting removal of sanctions on the Islamic Republic to accept it as a full-fledged member.
SCO’s charter prohibits accession of candidates who are under UN Security Council sanctions, according to Sputnik.
Lavrov said he saw progress being made in nuclear talks between Iran and P5+1 and “a possibility of having the international sanctions against the Islamic Republic lifted in the near future”, the news agency said.
Hence, Russia favors “making a decision that would show our readiness to promote Iran’s membership in the organization (SCO)”, he said.
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