Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — Iran and Russia have been discussing the resumption of strategic relations.

Officials said the Kremlin has been negotiating terms for Russian nuclear, military and energy projects in Iran.

The officials said the projects would not violate United Nations sanctions, but would take into account the easing of measures by the United States and the European Union.

“We don’t see reasons why we should give up the development of economic relations with Iran,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vasili Nebenzya said.

In a briefing on April 13, Nebenzya raised the prospect of trading Iranian crude oil for Russian products, a deal reported at $20 billion. The deputy minister stressed that the Kremlin would not be bound by U.S. sanctions on Teheran.

“While we are being urged to give up the development of trade and
economic relations with Iran and deals that some call oil-for-goods, Western
emissaries have hasted to Teheran, apparently fearing to be late to the
cutting of the pie after sanctions against Iran are cancelled,” Nebenzya
said.

Officials said Russia was preparing nuclear energy agreements that would
include the construction of up to a eight reactors throughout Iran. They
also raised the prospect of Russian defensive military platforms,
particularly air defense batteries.

“We are not violating any international sanctions by such actions,”
Nebenzya said.

The United States has warned Moscow against signing a barter agreement
with Teheran. Reports said Moscow has proposed acquiring 500,000 barrels of
Iranian oil in lieu of cash.

“There are unilateral sanctions of the USA against Iran which we don’t
regard ourselves bound with while the calls to give up the development of
relations with Iran greatly look like competitive rivalry,” Nebenzya said.

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