News   /   Energy

Lukoil president to meet with Iran oil minister in Vienna

President of Russia’s Lukoil Vagit Alekperov

President of Russia’s Lukoil, Vagit Alekperov, is to meet with the Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zanganeh on the sidelines of the OPEC ministerial meeting in Austrian capital city of Vienna.

Foreign ministers from the member states of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are to take part in the organization’s ministerial meeting on Friday, June 5.

"Yes, I will meet with the oil ministers of Iraq and Iran," said Alekperov when answering a question about his possible meetings in Vienna before the upcoming OPEC summit, Russia’s TASS news agency reported.

As nuclear talks between Iran and five world powers go on with the high possibility of achieving a comprehensive deal over Iran's peaceful nuclear program by the end of June, international companies, including Lukoil are mulling return to oil projects they were previously implementing in the Islamic Republic.

Before leaving Iran due to imposition of sanctions on the Islamic Republic, Lukoil took part in the implementation of the development project of Anaran oil block in west Iran. The company had worked on the block since 2003, but was later replaced with Gazprom Neft. Iran terminated the agreement with Gazprom Neft, Russia’s fourth largest oil company in 2011.

Sanctions against Iran were imposed by the US and European Union at the beginning of 2012, alleging that there was diversion in Iran's nuclear program toward military objectives. Iran categorically rejected the allegation, noting that its civilian nuclear program is only meant for peaceful purposes.

The Islamic Republic and the P5+1 group of countries – the US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China – reached a mutual understanding on April 2 in the Swiss city of Lausanne, which is considered a prelude to the achievement of a comprehensive deal before a self-designated deadline at the end of June. A key point of Lausanne statement was a promise to lift a series of economic sanctions on Iran – including those on the country’s energy sector.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is hosting its 6th International Seminar at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria, on 3−4 June 2015. The theme of the event is “Petroleum: An Engine for Global Development.”

SS/SS


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku