Eurasian bloc EEU, Iran may sign trade deal: Russia

By Emre Gurkan Abay

MOSCOW (AA) - A free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and Iran is expected to be signed by the end of this month, Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak said Monday.

Novak's statements came before his meeting with Iranian Minister of Communication Mahmoud Vaezi in Moscow.

Novak said a Russian envoy visited the Iranian capital Tehran on Monday to discuss details of the expected free-trade deal.

"We wish for the agreement to be ready when Iranian President Hassan Rouhani makes his planned visit to Russia this March," he said.

A memorandum of understanding to set up a free-trade area between member countries and Iran was signed during the EEU summit in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan on March 7.

Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia are members of the EEU which aims for common policies in economy and energy markets, and partnership in key infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, Iranian Minister of Communication and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi said the issue of supplying up to 100,000 barrels of oil per day to Russia is within the scope of an "oil-for-goods" barter deal.

* With contribution from Anadolu Agency’s Muhammed Ali Gurtas from Ankara.