MOSCOW, April 28. /TASS/. Russian-Iranian cooperation in the energy sector may bring good results over the short term, the Iranian Ambassador in Moscow, Mehdi Sanai said in an interview with the Kommersant Daily publication.
"Iran and Russia have held useful talks on energy issues," he said. "Talks between large Russian corporations and the Iranian side are incite hope and are moving ahead and I believe we'll see good results in that field shortly.
The Iranian government is interested in the Russian companies' presence in various investment sectors, Sanai said.
"Seaports, including the southern ones located on the Persian Gulf coast may be the objects of attention and interest," he indicated. For instance, India has reached a major agreement on with Iran regarding a section in the seaport of Chabahar. Apart from logistics, foreign businesses may take interest in the facilities, transport fleet on the Caspian Sea, and the railway linking Azerbaijan and Iran, Sanai said.
Like at no other time previously, everyone realized today the importance of making the North-South transport corridor a practical functioning project. "This isn't a remote prospect already," the ambassador said.
The linkup of the Azerbaijani and Iranian railway systems, improvement of logistics at the section of the railway between Russia and the Azerbaijani-Iranian border and from there to the Gulf coast may bring substantial benefits to the economies of these three countries and other nations, Sanai said.
Iran and Russia have eliminated many barriers for development of bilateral relations that existed in the past, he said. "In 2015 we signed the fundamental economic documents and made intensive efforts to cut tariffs, reduce customs barriers and straighten out the licensing process."
"Fair mutual understanding marks collaboration in all the areas, like different types of manufacturing, car making and Russian civil aviation," Sanai said. "The export of Iranian commodities doesn't confine to the traditional spheres and it includes pharmaceuticals, manufactured goods, dairy products, and seafoods."
If Russian investors joint infrastructure projects, then the two sides will see some important changes in economic relations, he indicated.