Russian Ambassador to Iran Levan Dzhagaryan[/caption]The lifting of anti-Iran sanctions can be mutually benefitial for trade relations between Moscow and Tehran, Russian Ambassador to Iran noted Thursday.
MOSCOW, January 22 (Sputnik) � The lifting of�unilateral sanctions against�Iran by�the European Union and the United States should lead to�a growth in�trade between�Moscow and Tehran, Russian Ambassador to�Iran Levan Dzhagaryan said Thursday.
�If these limitations [against Iran] are lifted, then we expect a return to�levels equal to�or surpassing the previous figures,� Dzhagaryan told RIA Novosti in�an interview.
�The unilateral sanctions by�the EU and the United States against�the financial and oil and gas sectors of�Iran�s economy has had an extremely negative effect on�the volume of�trade between�Russia and Iran because of�worsening conditions in�mutual accounting,� the ambassador said.
Dzhagaryan added that a key potential in�the mutual relations between�the two countries lies in�regional cooperation.The diplomat noted that Moscow never stopped cooperating with�Tehran in�initiatives relating to�energy, industry, transport, agriculture and advanced technologies. Dzhagaryan added that for�Russia cooperation with�Iran will remain priority in�the future.
Tehran has been subject to�sanctions imposed by�the UN Security Council, the United States and the European Union, as�well as�several countries over�allegations that Iran is trying to�produce nuclear weapons. Iranian authorities have repeatedly denied these claims, stating that its nuclear activities are peaceful in�nature.
The European Union, for�instance, imposed an embargo on�Iranian oil imports. The United States banned foreign companies from�investing more than $20 million into�the development of�petroleum resources in�Iran. Companies violating the ban will also be subject to�US sanctions. Iranian organizations and banks linked to�the nuclear or arms industries were also hit by�Western restrictions.
Due to�international sanctions, Russia severely cut back exports of�military goods and services to�Tehran. According to�the Center for�Analysis of�World Arms Trade (CAWAT), over�the past�several years, Russia lost out�on $13 billion in�military sales to�Iran.
By Sputnik News
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