OREANDA-NEWS The visit’s agenda included discussions on a provisional free trade zone agreement between Iran and the EAEU and a preferential trade agreement with Iran.

First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov held talks with Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh and Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mahmoud Vaezi. The talks focused on the possibility of drafting a provisional free trade zone agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and a preferential trade agreement with Iran. Other Russian officials attending the talks included Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Member of the Eurasian Economic Commission Board (Minister) for Trade Veronika Nikishina.

Mr Shuvalov said after a meeting with First Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Eshaq Jahangiri that Russia was satisfied with the high level of constructive dialogue and partner relations between the two countries. He also noted that Russia and Iran were actively cooperating in many areas on a bilateral level and in multilateral formats, including at the UN and the SCO.

“Our cooperation is growing in scale and becoming more intense and comprehensive,” Igor Shuvalov said. He added that the key goal of the visit was to discuss preparations for the upcoming meeting between the Russian and Iranian presidents. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is expected to come to Moscow in March. The free trade zone agreement between Iran and the EAEU should be finalised by that time, the Russian official said.