Zarif: Iran Sanctions' Removal to Eliminate Barriers for Trade With Russia

The lifting of sanctions against Iran will eliminate all barriers for trade and economic cooperation between Iran and Russia, including in the oil and gas sectors, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The minister made his remarks at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, following a bilateral meeting.

"With the removal of sanctions, all barriers for comprehensive, broadened cooperation with Russia are eliminated. Iran and Russia are not only neighbors, we have a very long history of trade and economic, oil cooperation. The agreements we have between Iran and Russia will face fewer hurdles," Zarif said.

Iran and six international mediators reached a final agreement with Tehran on its controversial nuclear program in July to ensure Iran never develops nuclear weapons.

The Islamic Republic agreed to guarantee it would use its nuclear program solely for peaceful purposes in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions imposed on the country, such as embargo on arms trade and the ban on oil exports to the European Union and the United States.

In early August, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei said both Iran and Russia were interested in maintaining stable global oil prices.

According to the National Iranian Oil company, the country's oil exports could be increased to the level of 4 million barrels per day from their current 3 million barrels once the sanctions are lifted.