Moscow, Tehran talk energy ties ahead of Iranian president's visit

Iran's oil minister Javad Owji met his Russian counterpart Nikolay Shulginov on Jan. 18 to discuss energy cooperation ahead of presidential talks later in the week, Russia's energy ministry said in a statement.

The agenda for Moscow and Tehran's energy talks included oil and gas cooperation, the OPEC+ agreement, and transfer of technology, according to Iranian state television.

In addition, Owji planned to discuss options for shipping Iranian natural gas to Pakistan and India with the participation of Russian companies, and manufacturing of oil industry equipment, the broadcaster added.

"The two sides also discussed preparation and the agenda for the next meeting of the Russian-Iranian government commission on trade and economic cooperation," the Russian energy ministry said its statement on the energy talks ahead of the presidential visit.

During his visit, Owji will hold talks with Russia's main OPEC+ representative, deputy prime minister and former energy minister Alexander Novak.

On Jan. 19, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during his two-day visit to Moscow, where he will be accompanied by the foreign, oil and economy ministers.

The two sides plan to discuss a range of bilateral cooperation as well as the Islamic republic's ongoing nuclear talks, according to the Kremlin. The latest round of EU-led talks was held Dec. 27-28 in Vienna and will continue in 2022.

S&P Global Platts Analytics expects the sides to reach an interim deal to freeze Iran 's nuclear development and offer some US sanctions waivers, increasing Iranian oil supply by an estimated 700,000 b/d from April to December.

Previously, Russia 's Lukoil said it would be "happy" to return to talks to develop Iran's Ab Teymour and Mansouri oil fields, which were put on hold in late 2018 after the US pulled out of the Iranian nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on the country's oil industry.