Iran and Russia are set to finalize six separate cooperation documents following negotiations by 16 working groups during the first two days of the 19th Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission, a senior Iranian oil official said Monday.
Ali-Mohammad Mousavi, deputy oil minister for international affairs and commerce, said the working groups reviewed issues pursued by delegations from both countries over the past year and prepared the final text of the commission’s main document.
“In addition to drafting the commission’s principal document — a comprehensive report containing about 190 clauses — six separate documents will be prepared and signed by various agencies,” Mousavi said on the sidelines of the commission’s opening ceremony. He added that the documents cover areas including standards, health and agriculture, and may be signed before the joint news conference in the presence of the commission’s co-chairs.
Mousavi said energy cooperation remains a central axis of the talks. He cited progress in discussions on Russian gas imports, describing the issue as important for Iran’s goal of becoming a regional energy hub. He also said oil-sector cooperation has been successful, noting that Russian companies have invested in several Iranian oil fields aimed at development and increased production.
The commission is co-chaired by the two countries’ oil and energy ministers, Mousavi said, adding that meetings are held annually, alternating between Russia and Tehran. He said issues are followed throughout the year via visits and in-person, virtual and telephone meetings, with executive decisions taken on a continuing basis.
Among key topics in the current round are Russian investment in phases 2 and 3 of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, and progress on the International North-South rail corridor, Mousavi said.
He said the discussions are structured and that all developments are formally recorded in the commission’s documents to facilitate practical and trackable cooperation.