Sputnik News- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Nebenzya said that negotiations between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Iran on a temporary free trade zone agreement could be finished by the next EAEU summit.

The negotiations between�the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Iran on�a temporary free trade zone agreement could be finished by�the next EAEU summit, scheduled for�October 11, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Nebenzya told Sputnik on�Saturday.

"The next meeting of�the EAEU at�the high level is scheduled for�October 11. We are hoping that by�that time, we will already be close to�finishing the talks and will start the procedure of�signing the agreement on�a temporary free trade zone between�the EAEU and Iran," Nebenzya said.

Nebenzya reminded that the previous round�of the talks took place in�Bishkek in�early Aril, "but, unfortunately, the talks didn�t end in�Bishkek, as�the parties could not agree on�their stands."

"Trade talks are never easy. Representatives of�the Eurasian Economic Commission spoke at�the session of�the Eurasian Supreme Economic Council, which also took place in�Bishkek in�mid-April, regarding the interim results of�the negotiations. The presidents [of the EUEU member states] instructed the Eurasian Economic Commission to�continue the dialogue," Nebenzya said.

In April, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said that the negotiations continued, with�Iran demanding from�the EAEU more than�intending to�give in�return. Shuvalov also assumed that the negotiations could end in�May, but�stressed that the quality of�the agreement "must be of�more concern" than�the speed of�reaching it.

Expert-level talks on�a free trade area between�Iran and the EAEU started in�2016. The consultations deal in�part with�issues raised by�Iran's lack of�membership in�the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The EAEU, comprising Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, is an international organization that encourages regional economic integration through�the free movement of�goods, services, and people within�the union.