Russian and Iranian sources close to the barter negotiations said final details were in discussion for a deal under which Russia would buy up to 500,000 barrels a day of Iranian oil in exchange for Russian equipment and goods.
‘Good progress is being made at the moment with strong chances of success,’ said a Russian source. ‘We are discussing the details, and the date of signing a deal depends on those details.’ The Kremlin declined comment.
‘Our desire is to sign the deal as soon as possible,’ said a senior Iranian official, who declined to be named. ‘Our officials are discussing the matter with the Russians and hopefully it will be inked soon, regardless of whether we can reach a (nuclear) agreement in Geneva.’
It is not clear whether the deal would be implemented before the finalization of a nuclear agreement outlined in Geneva in November between Iran and six world powers.
Nor is it clear how Russia would justify to other powers a barter deal that could jeopardise the nuclear negotiations by easing the economic pressure on Iran.
‘It depends on whether the Russians agree to implement this deal before there is a final resolution of the nuclear issues. That would obviously be a very negative signal,’ said Gary Samore, former nuclear non-proliferation czar for President Barack Obama and now an academic and president of pro-sanctions group United Against Nuclear Iran.
‘It could very well be they just want to have this ready to go the day after a nuclear deal is completed and they would then be prepared to execute a barter arrangement.’
US Representative Eliot Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was deeply troubled by the report of the Iran-Russia talks. ‘This reckless and irresponsible move raises serious questions about Russia’s commitment to ending Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons,’ Engel said in a release.
Russia is one of the countries involved in the nuclear talks but, unlike the US and the EU, has not imposed sanctions on Iran.
‘Good progress is being made at the moment with strong chances of success,’ said a Russian source. ‘We are discussing the details, and the date of signing a deal depends on those details.’ The Kremlin declined comment.
‘Our desire is to sign the deal as soon as possible,’ said a senior Iranian official, who declined to be named. ‘Our officials are discussing the matter with the Russians and hopefully it will be inked soon, regardless of whether we can reach a (nuclear) agreement in Geneva.’
It is not clear whether the deal would be implemented before the finalization of a nuclear agreement outlined in Geneva in November between Iran and six world powers.
Nor is it clear how Russia would justify to other powers a barter deal that could jeopardise the nuclear negotiations by easing the economic pressure on Iran.
‘It depends on whether the Russians agree to implement this deal before there is a final resolution of the nuclear issues. That would obviously be a very negative signal,’ said Gary Samore, former nuclear non-proliferation czar for President Barack Obama and now an academic and president of pro-sanctions group United Against Nuclear Iran.
‘It could very well be they just want to have this ready to go the day after a nuclear deal is completed and they would then be prepared to execute a barter arrangement.’
US Representative Eliot Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was deeply troubled by the report of the Iran-Russia talks. ‘This reckless and irresponsible move raises serious questions about Russia’s commitment to ending Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons,’ Engel said in a release.
Russia is one of the countries involved in the nuclear talks but, unlike the US and the EU, has not imposed sanctions on Iran.