MOSCOW, June 8 (Reuters) – Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak was quoted by Russian news agencies on Monday as saying Moscow did not plan to import oil from Iran and that Iranian oil would not be used to fulfil Russian companies’ contracts by swap operations.
Novak, however said that Russian traders could help Iran to sell its oil on international markets and that Iran could spend money earned on oil sales to buy Russian goods.
“We ourselves are a producing country. And we aren’t going to buy their oil,” Novak was quoted by Interfax news agency as telling reporters.
“Within our memorandum on expanding trade and economic cooperation, Iran will sell us oil, and that money will go on buying goods from Russia. Our traders if possible will help to find a buyer,” Novak said, according to Interfax.