Russia’s Share in Iran’s Oil Production to Increase

TEHRAN (Iran News) Mostafa Barzegar, Director General for Europe, America and the Commonwealth of Independent States at the Ministry of Oil’s International Affairs Department, made the remarks Monday during a televised interview on the occasion of the 19th session of the Iran–Russia Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation.

Barzegar stated that the three-day commission, held this week in Tehran, brings together senior officials from both countries with the aim of strengthening cooperation across key sectors including energy, agriculture, transportation and trade. He noted that the opening ceremony began on Monday, February 16, with the participation of Iran’s deputy oil minister. Expert-level meetings are being held during the first two days, while Russia’s energy minister, heading a high-ranking delegation, is scheduled to hold discussions with senior Iranian officials. The final document of the commission is expected to be drafted and signed on the concluding day, alongside several side agreements.

Referring to the 18th session of the commission, which was held in Moscow in May, Barzegar explained that the 19th session is taking place only about 10 months later—earlier than the usual annual schedule—due to the strategic importance of bilateral issues and the strong political will at the highest levels to expand cooperation.

He revealed that during the previous session, 193 provisions were approved to structure joint activities between the two sides. More than 75 percent of those commitments have either been implemented or completed, he said, while some remaining items require parliamentary approval due to legal considerations.

In the energy sector, Barzegar described oil and gas cooperation as one of the central pillars of Iran–Russia relations. He stated that major Russian firms have invested in seven oil fields in Iran and currently contribute around six percent of the country’s oil production. “The projected outlook foresees an increase of this share to 12 percent,” he said, signaling deeper upstream collaboration between Tehran and Moscow.

Beyond hydrocarbons, nuclear cooperation also featured prominently in his remarks. Barzegar pointed to ongoing collaboration with Russia in the development of nuclear energy infrastructure in Iran. He announced that a memorandum of understanding valued at $25 billion has been concluded for the construction of new large-scale and small-scale nuclear power plants in the Sirik region in southern Iran, as well as additional electricity generation facilities.

He explained that Russia has already made investments during the first phase of nuclear cooperation, while the second and third phases are currently underway. Given that five years have passed since the launch of certain projects, he said, the current commission session is expected to address outstanding issues and determine the next steps for implementation.

Gas imports from Russia were another major topic. Barzegar stated that in the first phase of the planned arrangement, annual imports of 55 billion cubic meters of Russian gas are envisaged, with an additional 55 billion cubic meters projected in the second phase. He added that electricity imports from Russia, routed through Azerbaijan, are also on the agenda as part of broader regional energy connectivity efforts.

Turning to trade and logistics, Barzegar identified transportation infrastructure as one of the most significant challenges facing bilateral economic expansion. He stressed the importance of the International North–South Transport Corridor as a key platform for boosting cooperation. However, he noted that incomplete railway links—particularly the Rasht–Astara rail segment—have limited the corridor’s full operational capacity, resulting in a greater reliance on road transport. Efforts are underway, he said, to enhance rail and maritime capabilities to facilitate smoother transit flows.

Barzegar also highlighted positive trends in agricultural cooperation, stating that trade in agricultural products and essential goods between the two countries has recorded significant growth compared to last year.

In concluding his remarks, he noted that Iran currently maintains around 50 active joint commissions with various countries. Despite what he described as strategic and friendly relations between Tehran and Moscow, bilateral trade volume currently stands at approximately $5 billion—far below its potential. The two sides have set a short-term target of increasing annual trade to $20 billion.

The 19th Iran–Russia Joint Commission is expected to serve as a critical platform for accelerating cooperation in energy production, nuclear development, transportation infrastructure, and trade, reflecting a broader strategic alignment between the two countries across multiple sectors.