Minister Says Russia To Deliver Fuel To Iran Despite Sanctions

Iranian Oil Minister Masoud Mirkazemi (left) and Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko shake hands on July 14 in Moscow.

Russia's energy minister, Sergei Shmatko, says Russian companies could supply Iran with refined oil products, despite unilateral U.S. and EU sanctions targeting Iran's oil and gas sectors.

Shmatko said that "if there is a commercial interest and attractive terms, Russian companies are ready to supply oil products to Iran." He was speaking after a meeting in Moscow with Iranian Oil Minister Massoud Mir Kazemi.

Iran has large oil reserves, but it lacks refining capacity and has to import petrol to satisfy domestic demand.

Russia has already expressed its dissatisfaction with the U.S. and EU sanctions that go beyond the new UN sactions agreed by Russia and other world powers to deter Iran from uranium-enrichment activities.

compiled from agency reports