Tehran, YJC. Recent statements by the Azerbaijan Ambassador to Moscow has further complicated Iran’s reverse oil swap with Russia.
For the high similarity of the Iranian oil and Russia’s
Urals, the reverse swap plan has met much objection from Iranian, Russian, and
even American officials in the past two years.
This was first ratified by Iranian officials. Last February
First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said that Iran had held talks with Russia
to exchange high volumes of oil for goods in return.
"Some made oppositions to the idea, but we have to say if
you do not enter [deal with] Iran, other people will come to the market and
leave you no place,” he had added.
After that, the Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaee
confirmed that Tehran and Moscow had held talks on oil-for-goods deal, stating "In
exchange for Iranian oil, Russia can build the second Bushehr reactor. Besides that,
Russia can export to Iran trucks, rail for rail road, or other goods as a way
to pay for the Iranian oil, or to build the country small refineries.”
Six months after that, energy ministers Hamd Chitchian and Alexander
Novak signed a deal between the two countries where Russia would cooperate in
building power plant as well as power grid, and exporting 500 MW electricity to
Iran.
Later on, Novak was to say in interview with Iran’s Mehr
News Agency that the two countries had signed no barter agreement adding "Neither
is there any mention of bartering oil for goods in the two countries’ joint
economic MoU.”
And finally, it was around one month ago when Iran’s
Ministry of Oil in reaction to some foreign news sources ann0ounced that Iran will
send its oil to international markets without any intermediary.
*MNA